COLFAX, WA – The Portland company trying to develop a local wind farm believes that proposed new restrictions would effectively ban future commercial wind turbines in Whitman County. The developers are also hinting that the draft regulations will compel them to shift to the State of Washington for approval of their project.
Steelhead Americas is proposing a wind farm near Kamiak Butte North of Pullman. Their plan has drawn strong opposition from many local residents who have formed a coalition called Save the Palouse. The Whitman County Commissioners responded to the outcry last January when they enacted a moratorium on new commercial wind turbines. That moratorium is giving the Whitman County Planning Commission time to update local regulations on wind farms. That moratorium currently ends on January 7th.
That effort will be on the forefront Wednesday night which might be the only chance for the public to formally comment about potential rule changes for wind farms in Whitman County. The volunteer planning commissioners have been working for months to recommend commercial wind turbine regulations to the county commissioners. The county commissioners will have the final say. The planning commission has been meeting weekly to tackle the issue. They now have some proposed rules that are ready for formal public comment. The extensive draft regulations include banning wind turbines within 9 miles of Kamiak Butte County Park. Another proposed restriction creates a wide buffer between wind towers and nearby non-consenting, non-wind farm participating landowners’ buildings. That draft rule requires wind turbines to be six-times the height of the tower generator away from those buildings.
Steelhead Americas has sent their comments about the draft rules to the Whitman County Commissioners and the planning commission. The company also sent a copy to Pullman Radio News.
The email argues that the proposed setback buffer and the exclusion area around Kamiak Butte and other sites effectively bans future wind energy development in Whitman County. Steelhead asks the commission to reject those recommendations noting that it compels developers to seek approval through the State of Washington. That process circumvents local control by taking the project to the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council and the governor’s office. The company told county officials months ago that they were considering the state approval process option.
The Steelhead Americas letter to county officials notes that they have been working on their Harvest Hills wind farm for over four years. Landowners representing about 15,000 acres have partnered with the company for the wind farm. Steelhead also cites that county officials previously stated that the existing local wind ordinance was adequate and that local permitting was preferable. The company says they are unaware of any jurisdiction in the nation with a six-times height setback for wind turbines. The letter also voices concern that most of the public comments about the draft rules have been anti wind farm which is creating misinformation. Steelhead argues that adopting these proposed restrictions would create a missed opportunity for local landowners, the loss of millions of dollars in new tax revenue and jobs. Their conclusion notes that Whitman County has had a wind farm operating for over a decade under the current ordinance. That’s a reference to the wind farm near Oakesdale that starting turning 2011.
Wednesday night’s Whitman County Planning Commission public hearing starts at 6:00 inside the Public Service Building in Colfax. The public needs to be aware that both the initial legal notice for the hearing and the formal posted agenda have an incorrect start time. The hearing starts Wednesday night at 6:00 and not 7:00. Citizens can also take part remotely over zoom as online testimony will be allowed. You can find that zoom link here https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89861731666 Written comments can also be emailed in by 5:00 PM Wednesday to alan.thomson@whitmancounty.gov
It’s unknown if there will be another formal public hearing regarding these specific proposed regulations. The Whitman County Commissioners would only have to hold their own formal public hearing if they adjust the planning commission’s recommendations. The planning commission does have additional areas of the wind code to review for further draft regulations.
You can find the draft ordinance up for public comment Wednesday night here https://whitmancounty.gov/743/Commercial-Wind-Ordinance-Review
The zoom link for the hearing which allows testimony online is here https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89861731666
You can read the email from Steelhead Americas to Whitman County officials below:
Comment from Harvest Hills Wind re Planning Comm Draft Recommendation (1)
