Fourth wind farm hopes for approval in Kittitas County

David Lester
Yakima Herald-Republic

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ELLENSBURG -- The proposal for a fourth wind farm in Kittitas County hits a pivotal stage in the permitting process Monday night, when a public hearing will be held in Ellensburg.

Developers of the $330 million project have spent the last several months trying to build community support, pointing to an economic study by Central Washington University that touts the benefits of investing in alternative energy.

Desert Claim Wind Power, owned by enXco Inc., a French-owned renewable energy development firm, has also made some tweaks to the design to minimize the impact on surrounding homes and businesses.

If permitted, Desert Claim will cover 5,200 acres eight miles north of Ellensburg and generate 190 megawatts, enough to provide electricity to 57,000 homes. The company hopes to start construction in 2010.

Monday night's hearing will be before the state Energy Facilities Site Evaluation Council, which will
make a recommendation to Gov. Chris Gregoire on whether to ap-prove the project. The hearing
is at 7 p.m. at the Hal Holmes Center, 209 N. Ruby St. in Ellensburg.

EFSEC officials have indicated they hope to make a recommendation by the end of the year, or as early as this fall.

According to the Central Washington University study, the Desert Claim project would generate 160 jobs during construction and 25 permanent jobs once it's built. The report also predicted Desert Claim would contribute $2.8 million every year it operates, as well as $900,000 in local property taxes.

Desert Claim Wind Power decided to seek state approval after the county denied its application four years ago because the 350 turbine towers were too close to the homes of nonparticipating neighbors. A revised proposal was submitted to the council in February, calling for reductions in the number of turbines, as well as the number of residences that would be within a 2,500-foot setback from the turbines.

More recently, the Economic Development Group of Kittitas County, the county's economic development arm, and the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development have let it be known that they back the new wind farm.

EnXco also owns the Goodnote Hills wind farm in Klickitat County.

Kittitas County is home to the Wild Horse wind farm, east of Ellensburg. The Vantage Wind Farm nearby is yet to start construction. A third facility, Kittitas Valley Wind Farm, has been approved and is under construction.

County officials have
argued that an applica-tion for state approval for Desert Claim was premature because the company has made revisions in the the size and scope of the project.

If the EFSEC recommends approval, it would mark the second time the state has overridden county opposition. A council recommendation to approve the nearby Horizon Wind Energy project was upheld by the state Supreme Court last year.



Commentsicon2
Posted by Nick at 07/11/09 05:59AM        Post ID#: #6728

After what they've done to the Columbia Gorge skyline, wind farms should be outlawed in favor of occasional wind generators here and there. They have put up THOUSANDS of them out of Goldendale and across the river. It is really ugly.

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