Desert Claim wind farm topic of Sept. 22 meeting; State energy council begins deliberations

A state energy council will begin on Sept. 22 to deliberate whether to recommend approval or rejection of the 95-turbine, $330 million Desert Claim Wind Power Project.

The state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, or EFSEC, met Tuesday in Olympia and set the September date to begin closed-door meetings to examine all evidence, documents, reports and testimony related to the wind farm proposed for eight miles northwest of Ellensburg and north of Smithson Road.

EFSEC conducted a public hearing and a short adjudicative hearing on the 5,200-acre project on July 13 in Ellensburg.

Another hearing was conducted in Seattle on July 21 before EFSEC members. Testimony, according to one count, was 10 speaking in favor with three opposed at the Seattle session, with two of those against being neighbors of the planned wind farm.
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EFSEC members, during their deliberations, will reach a conclusion and call on the council’s administrative law judge to write up a proposed order, according to EFSEC Manager Allen Fiksdal.

The order is made up of EFSEC’s findings of fact, conclusions of law and its recommendation on the project to Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Fiksdal said EFSEC will conduct a public meeting, likely in Ellensburg, to announce its recommendation and take formal action to adopt the order.

That meeting may come sometime in October.

The EFSEC recommendation then goes to Gregoire who has 60 days to approve, deny or send the recommendation back for modifications.

Fiksdal said the wind farm applicant, Desert Claim Power LLC, part of the French-owned enXco Inc., on July 31 submitted its post-hearing brief that addresses concerns brought up at the past hearings.

That document can be accessed online at the EFSEC Web site.

Intervenors, or parties who have been granted a voice in the formal adjudication process, have until Monday to file a reply to the Desert Claim comments. Those intervenors include Kittitas County government.

In other Tuesday action, EFSEC called for the rewriting of a proposed resolution to approve the downsizing of the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project from 65 to a maximum 52 turbines.

EFSEC will consider a final OK of the reduction and relocation of some turbines in the next two weeks. The 100-megawatt project is planned to be spread on 6,000 acres 12 miles northwest of Ellensburg.

The project, previously approved by the governor, is on both sides of U.S. Highway 97 and proposed by Horizon Wind Energy.

It was announced that minor road construction at the wind farm site will start in the next few weeks in preparation for major construction work early next spring.

Who are they?

Members of EFSEC and who they represent are: Jim Luce, EFSEC chairman (appointed by the governor); Ian Elliot, Kittitas County (appointed by county commissioners); Dick Fryhling, state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development; Hedia Adelsman, state Department of Ecology; Jeff Tayer, Department of Fish and Wildlife; Mary McDonald, state Department of Natural Resources; and Dick Byers, state Utilities and Transportation Commission.

To find all Desert Claim wind farm documents and legal briefs online, including the latest environmental study, go to www.efsec.wa.gov.

By Mike Johnston
Senior Writer

Daily Record

13 August 2009

Tags: Wind power, Wind energy

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