COLFAX, WA – The Whitman County Commissioners will consider possibly extending their moratorium on new wind farms.

In January of this year, the commissioners placed a six month moratorium on new commercial wind turbines. The move was a response to a controversial proposal from a Portland company. Steelhead Americas wants to build and operate a wind farm near Kamiak Butte North of Pullman. The plan has drawn strong opposition from many local residents who have formed a coalition called Save the Palouse.

The commissioners have already extended the moratorium on new winds farms. The current ban expires on January 7th. The moratorium was issued to provide the Whitman County Planning Commission time to draft new rules for commercial wind turbines. The commission has worked on those recommendations for several months and is currently meeting weekly to tackle the issue. The planning commissioners have asked the county commissioners to extend the moratorium because they need more time to complete their recommendations. The proposed new rules for wind farms will go to the county commissioners for consideration of final approval.

The county commissioners this morning agreed to hold a hearing on Monday night December 29th to take public comment on possibly extending the moratorium. That hearing will start at 7:00 inside the Public Service Building in Colfax.

The planning commission will hold a public hearing this week to take citizen testimony on some of their proposed new regulations on wind farms. The public hearing is on Wednesday night starting at 6:00 in the Public Service Building in Colfax.

Steelhead Americas never submitting any applications for their proposed wind farm before the moratorium went into effect. The Portland company informed county officials months ago that they are considering taking their project to state officials for approval. That can be accomplished through the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council and the governor’s office.

Kamiak Butte near the proposed Harvest Hills wind farm is designated as a National Natural Landmark.