COLFAX, WA – The Whitman County Commissioners have a busy Monday agenda to deal with wind farms.
The commissioners placed a moratorium on new commercial wind turbines last January. The move was a response to a controversial wind farm proposal from a company called Steelhead Americas. The Portland company wants to develop a wind farm near Kamiak Butte North of Pullman which is designated a National Natural Landmark. The wind farm project has drawn strong opposition from many local residents who have formed a coalition called Save the Palouse.
The moratorium was enacting to give the Whitman County Planning Commission time to draft and recommend new regulations for wind farms. The moratorium is currently set to expire early next month. The planning commission recently sent the county commissioners significant recommendations for new wind turbine rules. The planning commissioners want to increase buffer setbacks between wind turbines and adjacent non-consenting, non-wind farm participating landowners’ buildings. The recommendations also include banning commercial wind turbines within seven miles of significant Whitman County sites including Kamiak Butte.
Steelhead has informed county officials that if the stricter rules on wind farms are enacted it could compel them to take their project to the State of Washington for approval. Whitman County Commissioner Art Swannack has stated he is opposed to the planning commission’s request for stricter rules on wind farms. The county’s senior commissioner believes the draft regulations would force Steelhead to take their project to Olympia.
The three member Board of Whitman County Commissioners will make the final decision. They are meeting Monday morning at 10:15 in the courthouse in Colfax to discuss the recommendations. That’s followed by a possible decision.
The county commissioners are also currently scheduled to hold a public hearing Monday night on possibly extending the wind farm moratorium. The hearing to accept public comment is set to begin at 7:00 Monday night in the Public Service Building on Main Street in Colfax. The moratorium is currently scheduled to end January 7th. The planning commission isn’t completely finished with recommending updates to the Whitman County wind ordinance.
The public can participate in the meetings remotely here https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7336328211
