Whitman County Commissioners won’t block wind farm

COLFAX — Whitman County Commissioners believe adopting a moratorium is the last resort for managing the Harvest Hills Wind Project.

Instead, the commission plans to retain and apply local codes to exercise discretion over the endeavor.

The board met during its regular Monday meeting in Colfax to discuss developments regarding the wind farm proposed, where Whitman County Planner Alan Thomson gave the commission recommendations moving forward.

Steelhead Americas, an Oregon-based energy company, wants to build 45 turbines on private land west of Kamiak Butte and south of Washington State Route 272.

The company says the $300 million project would generate 200 megawatts of clean energy, produce $40 million in tax revenue for Whitman County during its 30-year lifespan and create 250 construction jobs and 30 long-term jobs.

Even so, the project has been highly scrutinized by the rural community. Many believe it would disturb farmland and Kamiak Butte’s aesthetics, while also threatening irreparable impacts to the region.

The wind farm is allowable under the county’s code. Thomson said Steelhead Americas would need to acquire approval from the Washington State Environmental Policy Act and a conditional use permit from Whitman County.

County staff reviewed three options to handle the project, which Thomson said include executing a moratorium to prohibit the company from applying for a conditional use application, implementing a six-month interim zoning ordinance to modify the permit’s requirements or amending the county’s code.

He added a considerable amount of research is needed before any steps are taken. But one thing the commission is sure of is a moratorium will do more harm than good.

The board agreed the only thing the decision would accomplish is remove the county from further planning, giving any control that it may have to the state.

While a moratorium would prohibit Steelhead Americas from applying for a conditional use permit, Thomson said the company can still seek approval from the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, an alternative process established by the state that overrides local zoning codes and county review processes.

Commissioner Art Swannack said the decision would halt any applications received at the county level. He added the moratorium would instead give the state authority to make a recommendation before being sent off to the governor for approval.

“The county process gives us more emphasis on our issues,” Swannack said. “It wouldn’t stop a wind farm but it would improve some of the outcomes, should it get built.”

He added there’s nothing the county can do to slow down Steelhead Americas, and adopting a moratorium would be a “rash action.”

Commissioners concurred, and chose to stick with the current county process.

In the meantime, the commission will be meeting with the county’s consulting attorney and reviewing its code to address concerns brought up by rural residents.

Thomson said the county will be conducting research on how the wind farm will affect assessed home and property values, environmental issues like its effects on wildlife populations and agricultural land, among many other topics.

Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com.