“Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Thursday rejected a recommendation to cut a proposal for what would be the state’s largest wind farm in half, giving new life to the $1.7 billion project. Plans for the Horse Heaven wind farm originally included up to 222 wind turbines across 24 miles of hillside in the Tri-Cities area of Eastern Washington, plus three solar arrays covering up to 8.5 square-miles.

But last month Washington’s seven-person Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, a clearing house for permits required by large projects, recommended slashing the proposal in half because of nests of the endangered ferruginous hawk were found in the area. Inslee on Thursday, rejected the council’s recommendation and told the group to reconsider in hopes of expanding the project closer to its full potential. A democrat who is not seeking reelection after three terms in office, Inslee has sought to make climate initiatives key to his legacy.

Since the windfarm project was proposed in 2021, it has pitted local opponents against the states ever growing need for renewable energy. In a letter to the site evaluation council, Inslee noted that Washington’s energy demand could nearly double by 2050.

As for those in the area, who don’t want to look at the turbines, he said that’s not enough of a reason to reject the project outright  “It is clear that the turbines will be visible from a distance and none of the turbines will loom over anyone’s home,” he wrote.  Inslee asked the council to try and offer the Yakima nation better access to the land, which hold cultural and historical significance, but to still restore most of the planned wind farm. Tribal communities along the West Coast have expressed frustration with what they say is a lack of consultation on such proposals that affect culturally significant waters and land.

The council has deliberated over the horse heaven wind for over three years. Now it has just three months to consider the governors notes and revise its original recommendation, the governor noted.” (The Columbian, Associated Press 05.23.24)