March 17, 2021
Washington

Benton County residents voice concerns and praise for wind farm project

By Taylor Fritz | KEPR | Tuesday, March 16th 2021 | keprtv.com

BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – Dozens of Benton County residents showed up online and in-person at Tuesday night’s town hall meeting voicing both concerns and praise for the proposed Horse Heaven Hills Wind Farm project.

The project led by Scout Clean Energy would put up to 244 wind turbines on the ridgeline of Horse Heaven Hills.

Benton County Commissioners held the town hall meeting in an effort to provide community members the opportunity to comment on the project.

The majority of the people who spoke were against the wind farm.

“These things are in my backyard I don’t think they need to be in the skyline of the Tri-Cities I mean we got a gorgeous view here that’s what brought us to the town and I don’t think we need to ruin that,” a Kennewick resident said.

Community members voiced a range of concerns, from the actual need for energy in our area to questions of whose responsible for the wind turbine clean up.

“We don’t need the energy I sit on an energy board I know what we need we need energy when it’s coldest outside and when it’s hotest outside and ironically as that might be that’s when these turbines won’t turn,” Barry Bush said.

Those in favor of the wind turbines voiced praise for all of the well-paying jobs the project would bring to the area.

“I live around a million wind turbines they’re great for our community I’m all for it I would much rather have a wind farm around me than anything else,” Jenny Alexander said.

The board of commissioners will submit an official statement on behalf of the county to the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council who is currently reviewing the wind farm project.

EFSEC will host a virtual public hearing for the project on Tuesday, March 30th.

To speak at the hearing you must register prior to 5 p.m. on March 30th , visit EFSEC’s website to sign up for public comment.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/03/17/benton-county-residents-voice-concerns-and-praise-for-wind-farm-project/