Recap of opinions for Tuesday’s public hearing on Tri-Cities wind farm | Editorial

Tri-Citians will have the chance to have their say on the proposed Horse Heaven Wind Farm project on Tuesday when the Washington state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council holds its public hearing on the issue.

The proposal by Scout Clean Energy of Colorado will put wind turbines about the size of the Space Needle along the Horse Heaven Hills ridgeline from Finley to Benton City, significantly altering the landscape.

This has become a heated issue in the community, and over the past two weeks the Tri-City Herald has published a variety of views on the controversial plan — both for and against.

Farmers leasing their land to Scout Clean Energy will benefit greatly if the wind farm application is approved, as will workers hired to help with construction.

But Tri-City residents worry about the scale of the project and fear it will ruin the region’s natural landscape, and negatively affect home values, growth and the region’s wine tourism industry.

Our editorial board also has voiced concern about the lack of local control over the project, and what that means to the Tri-Cities in particular, and to Eastern Washington in general.

The state council and Gov. Jay Inslee will have the final say on the application — not Benton County.

In advance of the public hearing, here is a recap of those opinions:

Editorials:

Will Inslee sacrifice Tri-Cities skyline for clean energy? Wind project will tell

Seattle Dem mocks Tri-Cities in wind farm tweet. Eastern WA deserves better

Guest Opinions:

Wind turbines don’t belong on Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills

“Great opportunity.” Horse Heaven wind turbines will improve this farmer’s life

Scout Clean Energy has this to say about the Horse Heaven Wind Farm

Wind farm will harm Tri-City tourism, devalue hydro

Anyone wishing to comment at the EFSEC public hearing must sign up by 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, the day of the meeting. Call 360-664-1345 or email efsec@utc.wa.gov. Comments also may be emailed to that address or mailed to EFSEC, P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504.

The meeting will be held online via Skype at bit.ly/EFSECmeetingHH and also will have telephone access at 360-407-3810. The meeting ID is 6702140#.

Questions will be answered from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a presentation and then the public hearing.

This story was originally published March 29, 2021 at 2:00 PM.