Wind Power News: Washington
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Wind farm plan worries WDFW
KENNEWICK – The proposed Horse Heaven Hills Wind Farm just south of the Tri-Cities would be so large that its impacts on important wildlife would be difficult, if not impossible, to avoid, says the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife. While the state agency is still preparing formal written comments, a staff member gave a brief overview of its concerns during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Washington state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. More than 200 people attended the virtual . . . Complete story »
WA state Fish & Wildlife concerned about Tri-Cities wind farm
The proposed Horse Heaven Hills Wind Farm just south of the Tri-Cities would be so large that its impacts on important wildlife would be difficult, if not impossible, to avoid, says the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife. While the state agency is still preparing formal written comments, a staff member gave a brief overview of its concerns during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Washington state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. More than 200 people attended the virtual meeting, . . . Complete story »
County commissioners oppose Horse Heaven wind farm project; what happens next?
BENTON COUNTY, WA- Benton County Commissioners released a statement Tuesday opposing the Horse Heaven wind farm project leaving many to wonder what happens next. The proposed wind farm would be a 112-square-mile clean energy production site with wind turbines that would stretch along 24 miles of the Horse Heaven Hills from south of Finley to south of Benton City. In Tuesday’s statement, commissioners say the county has received over 400 calls and emails from area residents regarding this project and . . . Complete story »
Horse Heaven Wind Farm’s virtual meeting draws hundreds
BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – Community members and local experts gathered to discuss their concerns about the Horse Heaven Wind Farm planned in Benton County. During the Horse Heaven Informational Meeting and Land Use Hearing on Tuesday night, hundreds of Tri-Citians made sure that Scout Clean Energy understood their concerns. Some are concerned that the windmills will be an eyesore that damages the beautiful views of the region. Others are concerned about the effect on local wildlife including Eastern Washington’s bird population. . . . Complete story »
Energy company withdraws fast-track review request for huge Tri-Cities wind farm
Scout Clean Energy has withdrawn its application to the state for expedited processing of its application to build a wind farm stretching 24 miles along the Horse Heaven Hills south of the Tri-Cities. Its application to the Washington state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council will move forward, but no longer with a request to shorten the process. The state council may approve expedited processing for projects in compliance with land use plans and zoning ordinances and if the environmental impacts . . . Complete story »
Is Tri-Cities wind farm intrusive or a lifesaver? State wants to hear from you
A state public hearing on Tuesday may turn out to be a face-off between those who welcome the proposed wind turbines south of the Tri-Cities as a step toward the nation’s clean energy future and those who see the proposed wind farm as the industrialization of the community’s skyline. It’s important that the Washington state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council hear from the public on the proposed Horse Heaven Wind Farm, said Emilie Brown, a spokeswoman for the council. The . . . Complete story »
Wind farm will harm Tri-City tourism, devalue hydro
Gov. Jay Inslee will soon decide if the relatively new wine country of Horse Heaven Hills is a good fit for a 24-mile swath of wind turbines ranging from 500 to 670 feet high. Power from these goliaths of new wind tech will meet his clean energy goals for western Washington. It will also cause irreparable environmental and economic harm to our community for the next half century. So why here? Because they don’t want it there. Case in point: . . . Complete story »
Wind farm a threat to scenic vistas
I live in Benton County and am opposed to the Horse Heaven Wind Farm being proposed by Scout Energy. The wind farm, as proposed, would be located on the ridges overlooking the Tri-Cities and extend for 24 miles. The windmills would be on average taller than 2 football fields vertically extended or taller than the Space Needle in Seattle. I don’t think this is what we want for our legacy for future generations. Most of us that have hiked Badger . . . Complete story »
Family of Chehalis man killed at wind farm site settles wrongful death claim for $12 million
The family of a Chehalis wind farm worker who died last year while on the job has settled a wrongful death claim for $12 million after filing suit in King County Superior Court. Pierce County Superior Court Judge James Orlando approved the settlement to the estate of Chehalis man Jonathan F. Stringer on Feb. 26. The settlement, according to probate case documents filed in the court, is believed to be “one of the largest payments for the wrongful death of . . . Complete story »
Newhouse to Inslee: Local voices must be heard on massive wind farm concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) sent a letter to Governor Inslee and the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council urging state officials to listen to the local concerns with the recent Horse Heaven Wind Farm Application (ASC) for Site Certification in Benton County. “It has been brought to my attention that the applicant, Horse Heaven Wind Farm, LLC, a fully-owned subsidiary of Scout Clean Energy LLC, submitted their ASC directly to the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council,” . . . Complete story »
