Wind energy myths generate confusion | Guest Opinion

At Scout Clean Energy, we know that big ideas sometimes lead to big questions. That’s why transparency with the local community about our wind energy projects is important to everyone here at our company and most especially to me.

After many years of developing renewable energy projects across the country, I’ve heard just about every myth and misconception about wind turbines. So when I saw local community leaders were forming positions based on common misconceptions it seemed like a good time to share some important details about what we’re planning, as well as impacts to the local community.

So Why Here and Now?

The Horse Heaven Wind Farm project will be located just south of the Tri-Cities and could bring up to 600 megawatts (MW) of wind energy to the region and the state of Washington. Although the proposed wind turbines are tall at 500 feet to blade tip, they will be similar in scale to the newest wind turbines at the existing Nine Canyon Wind Project which are 415 feet high. By seeing the wind turbines near your community, you can be confident that the lasting economic benefits flow to workers, landowners, their families and the local businesses they frequent.

A growing interest for renewable energy has enabled recent development such as the Skookumchuck Wind Project currently in construction in Lewis County near Centralia. The Horse Heaven project will contribute to a diverse energy market that is affordable, reliable and meets the needs of Washington businesses and communities.

But the benefits from renewable energy are about far more than a cleaner future — such projects also translate into capital investment in the local community. Our project will create up to three hundred jobs during construction and up to sixteen permanent family-wage jobs once operational.

Wind energy subsidies provide net-benefit to taxpayers and ratepayers

The primary growth incentive for the wind industry has been the Production Tax Credit (PTC), which is a performance-based incentive that attracts more than $15 billion a year in private investment across the country. The PTC has been important to the growth and development of renewable energy resources, and driven improvements in the cost and performance of wind power technology. The PTC currently provides $20 per MWh for the first 10 years of production but is being phased out starting at the end of 2020. Tax credits ultimately provide lower cost power for the ratepayers consuming the electrical output, which has been the primary goal of this incentive.

While Scout Clean Energy's investors do take advantage of the PTC, we feel it’s important to note that increases in county tax revenue generated by our private investment will funnel substantial benefits to the local community. At current levy rates, the full buildout of the project could generate $60 million in tax revenue for Benton County over the 25-year lifespan. Under current allocations, the largest proportion of those funds would support local schools.

Environmental &Wildlife Studies

As I write this, a team of independent experts is wrapping up more than three-years of environmental studies for the Horse Heaven project. We are excited to share results from this comprehensive review that will be submitted as part of our application to Benton County for a Conditional Use Permit and which incorporates the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). In addition to local agencies, our due diligence process includes coordinating with state and federal agencies including the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, the US Fish & Wildlife Service as well as local stakeholders.

Scout Clean Energy takes potential impacts to the local ecology very seriously. We share the public’s concerns about bird and bat mortality, which is why we site our projects carefully to minimize impacts. Perspective is also important. Studies demonstrate that the Horse Heaven project poses a low risk to avian species relative to other wind energy projects in the Pacific Northwest. According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, wind energy infrastructure causes a small fraction of all human-related bird deaths as compared to domestic cats, windows, and vehicles. In fact, the Audubon Society strongly supports properly sited wind energy facilities that reduce the threat to birds posed by a warming climate.

Get the Facts

Unfortunately, it’s easy to find misinformation about wind energy development which is clearly contrary to the evidence and can easily be refuted, or to ‘cherry-pick’ facts that present a one-sided view. We are proud of our plans to develop wind energy resources in Benton County that are low impact and cost-competitive, and welcome the opportunity to answer questions about the project. I am confident that when armed with the facts, you will find the Horse Heaven Wind Farm represents a win-win scenario for the community and Washington industry.

This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Wind energy myths generate confusion | Guest Opinion."