COLFAX, WA – The Whitman County Commissioners, without any discussion, have narrowly approved new stricter rules on wind farms.
Commissioners Tom Handy and Chad Whetzel approved the new restrictions on Monday, while senior Commissioner and Chair Art Swannack voted no.
This hot-button issue started being dealt with by the county commissioner early last year when they approved a moratorium on new commercial wind turbines. The move was in response to a Portland company’s controversial plan to develop a wind farm near Kamiak Butte, north of Pullman. The butte is designated as a National Natural Landmark. The proposal has drawn strong opposition from a broad coalition of local residents who have formed the group Save the Palouse.
The moratorium was issued to allow the county commissioners to direct the planning commission to recommend new rules for wind farms. The volunteer planning commission spent months crafting new proposed rules. The commission eventually recommended banning commercial wind turbines within 7 miles of significant Whitman County sites, including Kamiak Butte. The wind development company Steelhead Americas countered by arguing that the recommendation would effectively ban green energy projects in Whitman County. The company has further threatened to take their project to the State of Washington officials for approval.
After two delays caused by public notice mistakes from longtime Whitman County Planner Alan Thomson, the county commissioners finally voted on the issue Monday morning. The board heard nearly an hour of public testimony on the proposed stricter rules for wind farms. The public comment was evenly split on both sides of the issue.
That was followed by the vote. It began with a move for the vote from Commissioner Whetzel and a second from Commissioner Handy, followed by no discussion.
Many in the overflowing Whitman County Commissioners’ Chambers cheered the board’s narrow approval of the stricter wind farm rules.
Steelhead Americas issued a statement after the approval of Whitman County’s new, more restrictive wind code. The Portland company says going to the state for approval for their Harvest Hills project is a viable path forward, but falls short of announcing their next move. You can read that statement below.
