Please let us know what you think of the Horse Heaven Hills wind farm project and how it will affect our community. Also, let us know if you would like to be added to an email list and get updates on the wind farm project.
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I have been reading the emails regarding the wind energy, wind farm or whatever name one might use. I recognized, I had not seen a message referencing how this could have a significant impact on the expansion of the Tri-cities.
We have seen the growth of Kennewick to the south ridge area, and further south with homes and businesses.
Furthermore this south Kennewick area is in my opinion a prime area for an industrial park because of access to highways. As we all know this would bring job diversity to the Tri-cities so as not to be so dependent on Hanford. I might add this has been an ongoing goal for at least the last forty years and continues.
The entire wind farm proposal along the horse heaven hills all the way to Benton City has serious ramifications for the growth of the Benton County for the next 50 years.
On another note, as I traveled at night through Idaho recently, the red clearance lights that sit atop each of these generators was visible from miles away bringing into question the disturbance of community tranquility, along with a greater distraction along highways.
Thank you for this informative website!
Updating the new names of District 16 legislatures would be helpful.
Senator Perry Dozier Perry.Dozier@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7630 (replaces Maureen Walsh)
Rep. Mark Klicker Mark.Klicker@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7836 (replaces Bill Jenkins)
The generation of power that will be sold to areas outside of the greater Tri-Cities is not worth the permanent damage to our ridges and sweeping views.
This site does not seem to have a section on how we can participate in the process.
This should be a high priority.
Hi Greg,
We couldn’t agree more that the visual damage to our hills and ridges far outweighs the benefits generated by these industrial operations on our skyline with the electricity going to faraway places.
We would love to see more folks involved in the fight to stop this project; it is surprising how few people know about this giant wind farm planned in plain view of the Tri-Cities. One grass-roots effort is to print flyers and hand them to people in the neighborhoods and start a conversation; Pam is printing them and I will forward your contact info. She is also working on an online petition to let the members of the EFSEC board know how the Tri-City community feels about this project. Other options to communicate could be signs posted in people’s front yards “NO to 24 Miles of WindFarms” or similar; we welcome all ideas to stop this project. Save our ridges!
Please let me know how I can help stop Inslee’s tyranny. Where are the Benton County Commissioner’s on this they new to feel the heat !! A project not even to be done by Washington contractors? If this moves forward it will be a huge payday for Inslee and his corrupt politicians.
Hi Don,
Glad to hear that you are ready to fight the HH Project; the next couple of months will be critical. Please see the letter from Barry Bush under News and the link for the Go-Fund-Me campaign to start legal proceedings. Also let Judy (GOOSIE1515@aol.com) know that you would like to volunteer and save our ridges. Thanks!
It not a practical idea! Turbines can not be recycled, don’t produce enough energy to make much of a difference, the require oil to function and pollute the environment. Beyond that they are ugly, loud and kill wildlife. This area is prime prey bird nesting habitat and they help keep the snakes under control.
https://www.facebook.com/1451149315/posts/10222623612926281/
Please do not put any more of those non-viable wind turbines on Tri City hills! They don’t last very long and the parts are not recyclable. Save our dams and nuclear power which are so much more logical financially! The “green” movement is a scam!
I stand with you on not allowing this to happen. Please add me to your list for updates, rally if you have them, circulating a petition if needed. Whatever you need help with i will lend my assistance as much as I’m able to.
I am against the proposed Horse Heaven Hills Wind Farm, for ALL the reasons listed by my neighbors,
friends, & colleagues.
Do you have a petition we can sign against the wind farm moving forward?
We should be on fast forward with increasing our nuclear capabilities, while we continue with natural gas. We can wean ourselves from oil as technology improves, but wind and solar are no where ready for prime time!
Hi Janice, We are working on a petition and we’ll let you know when it’s ready. Save our ridges!
I stand in opposition to these wind farms. Everywhere you look they are going up – cluttering our landscape – destroying our panoramic views. For what? A source of energy that at the very least is inefficient. What can we do to prevent this project from going forward?
Is it too late to stop it?
Hi Carla, It is not too late to stop this project until the bulldozers move in. Please get involved in making everybody in our community aware of the potential impact of this huge project; see the action list. Thanks & Save our ridges!
I totally agree with everyone
We absolutely do not need any more windmills
By passing Benton County is totally wrong , we know what Olympia will say
What has happen in Texas is a good reason we need dependable power like our dams not windmills
We are not comfortable attending meetings but would like to know about other ways to get involved. How do we reach Barry Bush for volunteer jobs? Please add us to the contact list.
Hi Allison, Future meetings are planned using Zoom. There is an “action list” on the front page of this website looking for volunteers. I will pass your contact info to Judy so she can add you to the email list. Thanks & Save our ridges!
Hello Markus and Rich,
According to Scout’s proposal filed with EFSEC, the HH Wind Farms will include up to 244 wind turbines ranging in height from 500 to 650 feet. Their numbers keeps changing!
Hi Pam,
It keeps growing and no end in sight! I wouldn’t be surprised if Scout is already working on a Phase 2 with more turbines. Once the transmission lines and roads are in place, it will be easy to expand and the Horse Heaven Hills is a huge area. We need to stop it now!
We just heard about this. What a horrible idea!
Could we get a bunch of fliers to handout. Also, are you still looking for somebody to start and manage social media?
Any idea when the public comment meeting is?
Hi Joey and Christina,
Great to have you “on board”! I will let Pam know that you want more fliers; a lot of people in the Tr-Cities don’t know about this mega-project and fliers is good way to alert neighbors and friends. I think we are still looking for a social media /Facebook expert. Please join our Zoom meeting on March 2 at 6:00 to talk about our next steps. Thanks & Save our ridges!
Keprtv article incorrectly states the towers are 50 FT not 500
Hi Todd,
It is even worse than the 500 feet: as Fred pointed out, option 2 in the permit application is proposing a height of 657 to 671 feet! That is way above the antennas of the Space Needle (605 ft). Thanks & Save our ridges!
Hello,
Thank you for your efforts in starting this group! Both my wife and I support this. We will be monitoring closely to find the best opportunity for us to help.
Best regards,
r
Hi,
Glad you join our cause to save our ridges!Please get involved- our next Zoom meeting will be March 2 at 6:00. Thanks & Save our ridges!
I support the wind development. Clean energy is needed.
Hi Corey, I respect your opinion supporting clean energy. However, I want to ask you to look at the simulated pictures of the Horse Heaven Hills with the giant wind turbines included in the Scout application. Most of us care deeply about our environment and it breaks our hearts to think of being on top of Badger Mountain and not being able to see Mount Rainier with all the whirling turbine blades and blinking lights. We don’t have a political agenda, we don’t take a position on climate change or fossil fuels, and many of us are in favor of responsible development of renewable energies. We do care greatly about the hills and ridges around our cities, about the migrating birds flying along these ridges, and the spectacular views from the vineyards in our region with tourism bringing in over $ 500 million and over 6000 jobs per year. I hope you re-consider. Thanks.
Please be aware that the turbines may actually be 657 to 671 feet tall and not 500 ft. The power generated will be going to Los Angeles and southern CA. This project will ruin the Tri-Cities as a tourist destination and will have negative economic consequences for our local economy, removing 7,000 acres of agriculture and eliminating the farming jobs associated with it.
Option 2 consists of Turbines with a nameplate generating capacity of 5.5 MW and 6.0 MW and have a maximum blade tip height of about 657 to 671 feet
Benton County SEPA Checklist for the Horse Heaven Wind FarmHorse Heaven Wind Farm, LLC2810. Aesthetics A detailed analysis of the Project’s potential effects on aesthetics is found in Section 4.2.3 of the EFSEC ASC. The following summarizes the information provided in the EFSEC ASC.a. What is the tallest height of any proposed structure(s), not including antennas; what is the principal exterior building material(s) proposed? The tallest proposed structures would be the Turbines. As described in Section 2 of the EFSEC ASC, there are two Turbine options being considered: Option 1 consists of Turbines with a nameplate generating capacity of 2.82 MW and 3.03 MW that would have a maximum blade tip height of about 496 to 499 feet (151 to 152 meters). Option 2 consists of Turbines with a nameplate generating capacity of 5.5 MW and 6.0 MW and have a maximum blade tip height of about 657 to 671 feet (200 to 204 meters). Solar panels would be installed on single-axis tracking systems. Solar panels would be no higher than 20 feet above ground surface at maximum tilt and would consist of solar modules with anti-reflective coating.
Hi, I live in Spokane area and am a Kennewick native, , and also am involved in the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. This project seems like it would also affect the viewshed on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in the area. The LCNHT is the Snake, up the Yakima River and then down around to Umatilla and then Astoria. I would love to talk to someone to see what our organization can do from a Trail Advocacy standpoint
Hi Robert, I am glad you bring this up; this giant industrial complex on the horizon will be visible from 50+ miles away. Some folks say they can see the Statue of Liberty from 50 miles away and these towers are much taller (650 ft under option 2 vs. 305 ft for Liberty) and on ridges. The area through the Columbia Gorge already has protection and it would be great to have a similar designation for this part of the Snake/ Columbia/ Yakima river valleys for scenic and historical reasons. It is definitely worth exploring; I will pass it on. Thanks.
Please add me to your contact list for any future meetings etc. It’s the best hiking trail in the area especially for those who want to get in good shape to climb the mountains in this State. We already lost the ability to hike Red Mountain due to No Trespassing signs.
Hi Gary, The simulated picture released by Scout with a view from Badger Mountain looking across a 180 degree panorama of giant wind turbines is pretty shocking for a lot of us enjoying this unique hike. I am hoping that more folks jogging, hiking, mountain biking and enjoying the spring flowers on Badger and Candy Mountain will speak up before it is too late. Thanks & Save our ridges!
I am already sick over what’s happened to our landscape and for what?
I wrote to my representatives this AM expressing my objections to the wind farm, and asked why this was being decided in Tacoma. I got an immediate response as follows.
Hello Vicki
Thank you for the email regarding the Scout wind project.
State law allows developers to directly apply to the state agency, EFSEC, thus bypassing local government.
In April a meeting will be held by EFSEC to receive public comments.
Jerome Delvin, Commissioner
Benton County
Please add me to your contact list.
Hi Vicki,
We need to speak up loudly so EFSEC knows where the Tri-City stands on this; there is an on-line petition circulating and an action list for the many efforts to stop this project. Please give your contact info to Judy so she can add you to the email list. Happy to see you join; please let your neighbors know, too. Save our ridges!
Are they recycle able and where will the energy be used?
Hi Jo,
Sadly, a lot of the wind turbines parts end up in land fills after their 15 to 25 year life span, especially the turbine blades which are made of composite materials and can’t be recycled. There is also the issue of the huge amounts of concrete necessary to make the foundations for the 500 to 650 foot towers; concrete has large “carbon footprint” because a large amount of fossil fuel is used in manufacturing it (it is not done with “green energy”). Pretty much all of the electricity generated by these wind farms in Eastern Oregon and Washington is sent to far away places like Los Angeles and Seattle; we have plenty of electricity locally and our region produces about 40 % of Washington’s needs with the dams and the Columbia Generating Station (nuclear plant). Overall, 75 % of all electricity in Washington is hydro from dams, all renewable. Please check the tab “Where is the electricity coming from and where is it going” for more details. Save our ridges!
Hi! Appreciate all the great intel! Heck No to the wind farms! Is there a website to check where this project is at so as to be able to fire up-to-date protest letters at all in sundry? Also, have you networked with Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society, Columbia Basin Native Plant Society, Nature Conservancy, etc? There are probably more groups who would be willing to get involved and lend more clout to getting this shut down. Hikers, Mountain bikers, Trail Runners, Native Plant Enthusiasts, Bird Watchers, Horse-back Riders, Paragliders, just to name a few…Would happily sign a petition and share it when available. Thanks! Christy
ps. Was hiking Horse Heavens yesterday, along the Ridgeline from McBee to Chandler Butte, and was alarmed to find many new road tracks and what looked like survey stakes along the Ridgeline. Clearly this is not going away without major opposition!
Hi Christy,
Glad to see more hikers, birders and outdoors folks getting involved; the response from the organizations you mention has been very guarded- it looks like they are afraid to take a position because they don’t want to offend any members who believe this wind farm project is necessary to “save the planet”. I hope they take a look at the simulated panorama as seen from Badger Mountain and provided by Scout that shows the destruction of the Horse Heaven Hills with the 24 miles of rows and rows of 500 to 650 foot wind towers. We don’t want to destroy our regional environment to “save the planet”! Please talk to these organizations and let them know we need to act fast or our views will be destroyed forever. Thanks.
I’m part of the group spearheaded by Barry Bush to stop the Horse Heaven Hills wind farm. An on-line petition has been created and it would be wonderful if you could post it on your website. The link is https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/just-say-no-to-the-horse-heaven-wind-farm.html. I am the creator and administrator of the petition.
Hi Karen, Thanks for creating this online petition; another great way to alert friends and neighbors what could happen to the Horse Heaven Hills panorama. The link is also on the front page “What you can do…”. Save our ridges!
Is there any way the petition link can be duplicated or moved farther up on the page? Most people won’t scroll that far down. Perhaps making it bold will help as well.
Hi Karen, It is now on top of the “Recent Updates” list; also, it is in a bigger font on top of the “How you can help…” list. Save our ridges!
a waste of money, where in the hell are the environmental people who condemned them years ago, its just stupid, can’t store power does not benefit the tri cities, only benefit is to the wind farm contractors. Blades made in China cannot be recycled maintenance intense, green energy technology not developed yet. This project just enriches the companies not the residence who have to live by them, the problem with people who make these hay wire decisions never have to I’ive next to them or do have in there back yard or have to depend on wind power to there residence, the elite at work for us morons, this is like trying to protest cell tower locations ATT owned local government is bought and paid for, embarrassing after attending meeting ito protest cell tower location city comptroller had already made the call wast of my time to attend, my experience trying to work within the system.
I hear you, Terry. Now it is time to let our representatives know what we think about the wind farm, from city counselors, mayors, commissioners, EFSEC members, all the way to Governor Inslee. Please write to them, and sign the online petition. Thanks & Save our ridges!
Hello! I’ve read your website but I’d love to see a facebook page be made and information be shared daily on how people can help to stop this from happening.
Hi Jamie, You are right: the quickest way to share information and give a wider audience an update on the HHH wind farm project is with a Facebook page. We are working on this and it is on our action list. If you have special skills in this area, we would love to talk to you. In the mean time, Judy at goosie1515@aol.com is our contact person; she has a Facebook page to give folks updates. “Would you like to join our Horse Heaven Hills Wind Farm Opposition group? If so, send me your email address, phone number and mailing address and you will receive the latest information on our group actions and upcoming Zoom meetings.” Save our ridges!
This project is ill suited for our region. With tower heights abobe 500 ft this will be visble from much of the Tri-Cities (Nine Canyon towers are well below 500′ and are extremely visible). The intermittent power from wind in our area (around 35% efficient) doesn’t provide a good solution but instead makes planning difficult on Benton PUD. I am strongly opposed to this project, and would like to get involved.
This will do more harm then good. if the west side wants more power they can put it over there… this will not help winter energy costs as just in 2019 energy costs sky rocketed due to no wind and no sun and below freezing temperatures. we already have a nuclear plant that has to down power for the dams in the spring. stop destroying our landscape with this stuff. they dont talk about disposal paths for the blades, impact to traffic to install…
We need our Commissioners to act now to prevent this gigantic project from developing. This is a super expensive project which ruins our view, destroys the quiet, and reminds us that we will no longer have sweeping views and that the electricity which is created will not go to help our communities. I join the many who object to this development.
Shirley W. Larson
This project is totally nonbeneficial for Eastern Washington for the following reasons: 1) After those monstrosities are built the number of jobs they create goes down to practically zero. 2) The $20 million in property taxes the first year must drop dramatically if it only provides $250 million over 35 years — $20 times 35 years equals $700 million. 3) They keep saying Eastern Washington is the perfect place for wind turbines because the wind ALWAYS blows, but whenever you drive past the current turbines they are rarely spinning. If this is such an important factor build them on the coastline where IT IS BLOWING EVERY SINGLE DAY! We all know they will never do that because they believe their views are so much more important than our beautiful unmarred ridgelines. 4) The power generated — the small amount that it is — will not be used here, but sent elsewhere so why should we have to tolerate these eyesores. Let the people who are going to use this power build them next to their homes. We need to fight against this project before it goes any further!
Hi Jo, You make an important point: Scout uses a lot of “fuzzy math” when they make claims about the tax and job benefits to our community. And the wind turbines only produce power about 30% of the time, usually when we have a lot of hydro power in the spring and early summer. Please let EFSEC know how you feel about the wind farm. Thanks & Save our ridges!
your petition website does not work
Hi Paul, Sorry to hear that you have problems with the petition; this is an important part of our effort to stop this project so we want to make sure it works. I clicked on the link under Important Contacts and the GoPetition opened up; when I clicked under Mr/Mrs and entered my name, it accepted that information. Please tell me more where the problem so I can alert the right people. Thanks for your help!
I’m curious what efforts are being made with our local officials to get the ridge lines, specifically, the Horse Heaven Hills, protected as “open space” here in the Tri-Cities. It seems as a community we should be able to get our officials to zone the area as “open space” free from development with allowance for current use, but if purchased, all future use would need to be toward creating and preserving the natural beauty of the area. Eminent Domain could be used, but also, please consider something called a Real Estate Investment Cooperative (where the funds to purchase the land are crowd funded and controlled by vote by investors from the local community). Our officials must be bold and make a clear stand against outside interests who wish to limit growth in our region and extract resources we will see no benefit from while sacrificing the natural beauty of this area. The choice of placement is myopic and tone deaf to our region. We could tie Scout Energy up in legal battles, but that could prove more costly than just doing what we should have proactively done as a community long ago, making the Horse Heaven Hills public lands free from development to preserve the natural beauty of our area and above all the threats to migratory birds and other wildlife. Let’s pay the 70 farmers who need the money to retire or diversify their portfolio to remove their pain and the community pain of losing our Horse Heaven Hills to a company who is not invested in our community. Fair Market Value should do it. The farmer’s or land owners will get more due process than the rest of us are getting now. So what’s the way forward on this? We need a clear action plan other than throwing emails into the ether and hoping our fellow washingtonians will side with us over an out of State corporation. Protecting the natural beauty of this area and our burgeoning tourism economy (rebuilding it after COVID) takes money and a long vision and plan. There’s stuff our local officials CAN do. How can we tap into that and get it going. We are not as helpless or cut out of this process as it seems.
Hi Jessica, You make an excellent point: The Horse Heaven Hills should be protected and declared “open space” for the benefit of all the people from the Tri-Cities. This could be similar to the Columbia Gorge area where such a designation has turned the sleepy logging towns of Hood River and White Salmon into vibrant and booming tourist destinations. This option also leaves room for some limited housing development in Badger Canyon, Southridge, etc. that benefits the farmers selling some land and the community with income from higher property taxes; the wind farm will devalue many thousands of acres of land and we all lose out. Please let us know what concrete steps we can take to make this “dream” a reality. Thanks & save our ridges!
Wind turbines are useless. They kill our birds and destroy our landscape. We have many days without any wind. Bad idea.
If Washington state is supplying excess hydro generated electricity to Los Angeles what is the basis for installing disgusting landscape rape energy machines all over these beautiful hills and ridges? California keeps removing it’s reliable sources and installing these intermittent ones yet it demands reliable power and now we learn where it gets it. So as California removes it’s reliable clean nuclear power and remove it’s hydro dams as well, they then rely on those hydro dams built in Washington state. It’s become quite clear California is the hypocricy state. There is only one clear reason they keep pushing this fake clean energy agenda, greed. The money of these subsidized systems flows into the portfolios of the rich like San Franciscan Tom Steyer, disingenuous as they come, constantly pushing the wind and fake climate problem agenda as he profits immensly from it. Los Angeles is an irrigated desert – that uses MASSIVE amounts of energy. It will never be provided by these ugly inefficient wasteful propeller sticks transfer your financial energy into theirs and what do they all do, they don’t conserve fossil fuels, they live lavish energy hogging luxurious lives. The basis for all of these renewals is quicksand. They do nothing to stop the illusion of climate catastrophy what-so ever. They only present an illusion of being clean. Dig down you see how they ruin landscapes everywhere in every aspect of manufacture, build, maintenance and waste energy. They are net losses. They are a scam to get your energy. The goal is not to find the proper siting for these, the only suitable place is on the Sun. We need to immediately set up plans for a decommission all of them by 2050 as we realize the illusion and remove them restoring all pristine beauty back as it was and ban their installation everywhere.
https://horsepower.net/tri-cities-washington-save-our-ridges-horse-heaven-wind.html
Hi Ken, You make valid points: we don’t need the energy here and the idea that the HHH wind farm will provide “green” energy to reduce fossil fuel use is questionable. It is more about corporate greed and cashing in on subsidies and tax benefits. I remember the rolling power outages we had in California in the 1990’s; that was another case of corporate greed (Enron) and how they manipulated the system.
Thanks & Save our ridges!
Someone noted that the petition site didn’t work. Try again at https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/just-say-no-to-the-horse-heaven-wind-farm.html.
Also, would the admin or whoever is making modifications to this website could put the link to the website into the Links section, it would be much easier to find. Make it a hyperlink, too, so people don’t have to copy and paste it.
Karen, There is now a link at the top of the Link section.
Hi there, I have seen a number of videos on youtube that show that the wind turbines as currently designed like propellers have significant issues including, getting torn up, blown up in high wind gusts or freezing rain conditions, killing large amounts of birds since the blades actually travel at a high rate of speed, and the edges of the blades disintegrate quickly due to sand particles in the air which then greatly lessens the energy output of that windmill and the lifespan. Most fo these are fiberglass and there is no recycling of these things (and they are huge blades) so they get hauled off and buried somewhere which has to be included in the cost (both price and environment). However, there are newer models made out of metal that are on vertical axis that eliminate almost all these problems. They can also be combined with power banks (like Tesla offers) to store the power to still be able to provide power output during times of no wind. It also needs to be taken into consideration that it is the windiest during fall and spring, which are the exact times of year that the dams are releasing the most most water (which they have no choice to release) this means that during these times, the windmills may not be allowed to send power to the grid thereby greatly reducing the expected energy return on investment….. I know that to be the case with Kittitas county windmills. With all the sun you have and the little snow, perhaps solar farms would be better but would also have the issue of wind driven damage to the glass tops. But certainly check out all the wind farm videos from around the world for good data on the problems. Lastly, don’t forget the noise…like jet engines. They are not simply roses and buttercups as advertised.
Hi Eric, thanks for your interesting comments. There is a lot of research going on in new designs for wind turbines and batteries for energy storage which will make renewable energy more useful in replacing fossil fuels. However, as it is, wind energy is replacing hydro in the spring because the dams have to spill water when the wind farms deliver excess electricity to the grid; you can read about it in “The economics and politics of wind farms” or in Jim Conca’s excellent article (Opinions). Also, new designs of wind towers don’t get around the fact that these giant industrial operations should not be on the skyline of a metropolitan area that thrives on tourism and outdoor recreation. Thanks, Save our ridges!
Our group, Friends of the Oxbow Property, Umatilla County, Hermiston, Oregon, has been following and support ” Save Our Ridges” effort to stop Scout Energy from moving forward with it’s proposed Horse Heaven Wind Farm.
We are horrified at the thought of 200 plus wind turbines between the Columbia River and Kennewick, WA.
Two questions (1) When is the final decision due , permit status?
(2 What can we, as Oregonians do to help Save Our Ridges?
“Open Space” designation for a portion of the Horse Heave Hills is a big “thumbs up” .
Eileen Laramore
Executive Director
Friends of the Oxbow Property, Umatilla County ,Hermiston, Oregon
Hi Eileen, Good to hear from our neighbors in Oregon! We can see all the wind turbines going up in the foothills of the Blue Mountains on your side from our ridges and so you will see anything on our side from 50+ miles away. We have the same problem: our friends in Seattle or Olympia, or Portland and Salem in your case, like green energy as long as it is on the other side of the state. A recent article in the Seattle Times “Seek compromise before siting solar, wind farms in rural Washington” makes the case that the local community needs to have a say in these matters (see Opinions). Unfortunately, that is not the case with the HHH wind farm project where Scout chose to go directly to the state agency EFSEC for approval bypassing Benton County who opposes this project. There was a public hearing by EFSEC on March 30, 2021. Scout changed the expedited status of the project so now there will be a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review with an environmental impact statement (EIS). At this time EFSEC, is requesting comments on the EIS such as wildlife/habitat, visual/aesthetics, land use, noise, light and glare, etc. with a deadline of June 10, 2021; see the details at http://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/horse-heaven-wind-project. I have heard that the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are weighing in on this project so they might be able to help us fight these giant landscape-destroying wind farms both in OR and WA. Ultimately, we need some “open space” designation to protect our landmark hills and ridges from future destruction similar to what was done for the Columbia Gorge. I will pass your email on to Judy so you get updates. Great to have your support!
I am not for the proposed Scout Wind Farm Project with its proposed 600MW generating capacity.
One reason is that I could not find the calculation variables that made up their generating capacity such as; the number of turbines running, the days and level to which they are running, days per year with the acceptable wind.
I would rather see the new X-energy reactors up with the proposed four rectors making consistently reliable 380MW of power for the grid.
BTW, I was the guy in orange you talked to today on the Candy Mtn Trail.
Hi Rick, It was great to talk to you on the Candy Mountain trail; the Friends of Badger Mountain do an amazing job of building and maintaining the trails in our hills. They are a real asset to the Tri-Cities and hopefully we won’t have to look at turbines across the valley in the future. As to the technical question, Scout claims that their wind farm with the solar extension has a maximum capacity of about 1200 MW. The wind only blows about 30 % of the time so the real capacity is closer 360 MW or less (according to Jim Conca, the real number for our area is about 27 %). Unfortunately, that often comes at the cost of spilling water over our dams so there is very little gained. The proposed modular reactors could be real game-changers and bring a lot more benefits to our region. Save our ridges!
These are the comments I submitted on 12/22/2022 after reviewing the Horse Heaven Wind Farm Draft EIS (December 2022).
Executive Summary Comments
Source: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/sites/default/files/210011/Executive%20Summary.pdf
Page ES-38 VIS-5: Avoid complete removal of vegetation beneath solar arrays during construction, where possible, to reduce the contrast between the exposed soil and adjacent undisturbed areas during project operation. If site grading requires the removal of vegetation, the area will be revegetated and maintained during project operation (BLM 2013).
Comment: Avoid complete vegetation removal beneath solar rays increases operational and economic impact when the area is subjected to a wildfire which is identified as a high risk in Table ES-3a Section 4.13. This also seems in conflict with Table ES-3b Summary of impact during operation section on “Vegetation / Vegetation Maintenance (Section 4.5) which states: “During Project operation, vegetation may require maintenance, such as cutting or removal, for areas under the solar arrays, or along roadways.”
Table ES-3a Summary of Impacts during construction
1. Comment: The table does not identify the impact of greater fire risk during summer months when vegetation is dry. NOTE: BLM banned off-highway vehicles for many months in 2022 due to high fire risk
2. Comment: Table’s Public Health & Safety / Fire (Worker Health and Safety) (Section 4.13) states: “Fire resulting from Project construction is unlikely, but wildfire risk in the area is considered high.
Section 4.13 Fire (Worker Health and Safety) Only mitigation listed related to topping or removal of trees.
3. Comment: Tables Transportation / Vehicular Traffic (Section 4.14) Table does not identify the increased potential of off-highway vehicles on haul roads caused by wildfires during construction being a greater fire risk during summer months when vegetation is dry. NOTE: BLM banned off-highway vehicles for many months in 2022 due to high fire risk
Table ES-3b Summary of impact during operation section on
4. Comment: Table “Vegetation / Vegetation Maintenance (Section 4.5) fails to mention the removal of windblown vegetation against fences and structures to ensure ready access to equipment and minimize fire loading of blown-in dry vegetation.
5. Comment: Table Public Health and Safety / Fire (Worker Health and Safety) (Section 4.13) fails to include a discussion on the build-up of fire loading on fences and structures during seasonal fire weather conditions. This section also fails to discuss any impact and mitigation If a fire were to occur during turbine operation where the fire spreads to the ground during a structural collapse of a tower. Note: There is minimal discussion of this in Chapter 4 Table 4.13-3b (page 4-468) and Table 4.12-3c (page 4-469).
Table ES-4a Summary of Impacts during by component during construction
6. Comment: Table’s Public Health & Safety / Fire (Worker Health and Safety) (Section 4.13) states: “Fire resulting from Project construction is unlikely, but wildfire risk in the area is considered high.
Section 4.13 Fire (Worker Health and Safety) Only mitigation listed related to topping or removal of trees.
Chapter 4 – Analysis of Potential Impacts and Mitigation
Source: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/sites/default/files/210011/Chapter%204%20-%20Analysis%20of%20Potential%20Impacts.pdf
Section 4.13.2.4 Applicant Commitments and Identified Mitigation
7. Comment: The section lists the intent to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2000. This reference is to an Australian rule. The correct citation should be “The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970”. The authors may have been confused with Congress passing the OSHA Reform Act of 1999.
The Batelle Meteorolgy Study on Horse Heaven Hills following a Paraquat (from Agent Orange) an aerial application of approximately 840 Acres drifted off target to not only Badger Canyon but also to Kiona, the golf course from 27th to 36th in Kennewick to Columbia Park to WSU in Richland with positive analysis to the application southwest of Badger Canyon over 400 sq miles of Tri-Cities.
Batelle found this area of HHH and the topography of the varied terrain and canyons with many unpredictable inversions made this area unique to anywhere else in the USA. If the particles will move with an airplane and it is flying below the altitude of the wind machines, it is common sense that the air movement of the wind machines will carry the noise and the canyons and hills across will echo and amplify the whrrr of the turbines.
This area will have people illnesses and their solution will be moving and property values will fall losing economic values and lowing the tax revenue for the state, local schools and not knowing long term affects on children’s learning.
How is Scout prepared to offset property values and illnesses? Is there a fund to help the state offset these health problems, property loss? How about removal within 6 months to a year of abandonment? Because in the Midwest, Iowa for example have many sitting for 7 years as an eyesore. What is done with the dead blades that are not recyclable? Bury them in Wyoming at the Wind Machine Blade Cemetery? That’s environmentally sound? What about the pollution to make all the concrete pours to make a gigantic slab for erecting 244 monstrosities. Who removes that? And what about the construction and blowing dust….our hills are vulnerable and no contractor can keep enough water on 7200 acres of dry land to prevent the contamination of dust…so severe asthma residents are forced to stay inside? My husband and I dealt with the dust pollution and air quality affecting his asthma with one home above us being built in this same area as wind machines will pollute. He often had to come in the house or leave home because of the dust carried in the wind. Well, this ended up being his last year of life and he couldn’t enjoy it. A lot of retired people have moved to high end homes in Badger Canyon and they deserve to enjoy their lives without Scouts construction dust and without the obscene noise that will be echoed?
Before any decision is made to support this wind machine project on HHH above Badger Canyon each member of the committee needs to come and meet with us residents and see the uniqueness of this valley and Tri Cities. This area should be protected for growth of Tri Cities.
Hi Margaret,
You bring up a lot of very valid points against building a giant industrial complex on our ridges. Dust is a major problem in the HH area and there are a lot of studies that show the terrible health effects from inhalation of small particles (PM 2.5). Unfortunately, the WA health department does not monitor dust in the Badger Canyon area but we all know that there are large clouds blowing down from the HH hills on windy days, and the wind farm is only going to make it worse. Thanks for your comments & please donate to the cause at https://newstalk870.am/group-launches-go-fund-me-to-fight-horse-heaven-windmill-project/. Thanks!
-I can’t find it on your website, and have no idea where to ask this; but are you folks receiving any assistance from our local elected officials? If you don’t mind a suggestion, I think you should publicly acknowledge those who who are helping you, those who oppose you, and those who have shown indifference. And by publicly I mean loudly and clearly on your website.
Just a thought from a supporter, Robert M. Winter
Hi Robert,
You make a good point: on the local level, the support from elected officials opposing this project has been generally very good. Most of them realize that there is very little gain from it for the local communities (some jobs, most temporary; some tax money but probably much lower than what Scout promises) but a lot to lose (lower property values, scenic pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, increased fire danger, environmental damage, destruction of wildlife habitat and migratory paths, etc.). You can read the comments of the Benton County commissioners, City of Richland and Kennewick, Benton PUD, Tri-City tourism and many others under EFSEC. The biggest proponent of this project who already has “blessed” it even before EFSEC has released their recommendation is Governor Inslee; he is uniquely positioned to make or break this poorly sited project and we need to let him know that we locals want a “say”.
Save our ridges!
Would you like to join our group list so you can keep updated on the latest?
Barry Bush was on KONA 610 The Bottom Line with Jessica Percifield Henry. She was involved in another group that was against the wind farm and urged people to sign up for their newsletter. I thought she said TriCitycare.org but I have searched the web and can’t find them. The newsletter was going to keep us posted on when the EIS would come out so that we could comment. If you could let me know what the organization is and maybe a link to sign up I’d appreciate it. I’m involved in another conservation group in Tri-Cities and would like to keep our members up to date with information.
Thank you.
Hi Carla,
Glad to hear that you and your organization are helping to fight this industrial-scale wind farm project on our horizon.
A Non-Profit, Tri-Cities C.A.R.E.S. (Community Action for Responsible Environment Stewardship) is being formed to focus on preservation of the Horse Heaven Hills environment.
• Conservation efforts include preserving the HHH’s dwindling shrub steppe and protecting those animals at risk and endangered, such as the Ferruginous Hawk. The environmental impact of this massive wind and solar farm cannot be overstated.
• Watch for a public launch of C.A.R.E.S. with an impressive new website later in July!
I will forward your email to Judy who is coordinating our efforts.
Thanks. Save our ridges!
http://www.tricitiescares.org/
I’m a reporter on deadline today. I’m writing up a synopsis of the DEIS. I am with a publication (Clearing Up) that covers the Northwest energy sector for industry insiders.
I’d like to connect with someone from SOR–if possible today. Even if it isn’t today, I’d like to connect all the same, as I will be covering the ongoing permitting process.
thank you
Hi Dan, sorry but it is probably too late for your deadline but I will get you in touch with Pam from CARES.
I hope in the testimonies the fact that the hills catch on fire every year & the impact of the wind mills would be a ecological disaster when they burn
The ECONOMICS AND POLITICS OF WIND FARMS section of your web site states: “This new Scout Clean Energy wind power will only displace hydro, another renewable, thus having no effect on carbon emissions ….. Whenever energy from wind comes onto the grid, hydro generation is dropped or curtailed, by spilling water over the dams instead of through the turbines.”
Why not just let the water go through the turbines to produce the same amount of energy that comes from the building of wind turbines? Aren’t the wind turbines a total waste of money, especially considering they don’t even reduce any carbon emissions?
You make a good point; save our dams!
The ECONOMICS AND POLITICS OF WIND FARMS section of your web site states: “This new Scout Clean Energy wind power will only displace hydro, another renewable, thus having no effect on carbon emissions ….. Whenever energy from wind comes onto the grid, hydro generation is dropped or curtailed, by spilling water over the dams instead of through the turbines.”
Why not just let the water go through the turbines to produce the same amount of energy that comes from the building of wind turbines? Aren’t the wind turbines a total waste of money, since they don’t produce any additional energy and even reduce any carbon emissions?
Is there anybody at Save Our Ridges that I could contact about support for our proposed Congressional bill?
Hi Mike, we are working with our local representatives and your voice is very important. The Tri-Cities CARES group is actively involved in the legal hearings with EFSEC and we hope that this giant wind farm project on our ridges will be cancelled or reduced in size. I will let CARES know that you are interested in getting updates on our “fight”. Thanks.
Your picture of Mt Adams from Badger Mtn correctly states it is from a National Park Service’s website on the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. What it doesn’t say is that I was the photographer of the 2016 image that was provided to the NPS for their use. I do not object to its use on the Save Our Ridges web page and you have my permission for its continued use. I would appreciate it if a citation could be added to give proper credit to read: “Friends of Badger Mountain/Rick Zimmerman”.
Hi Rick, Thanks for the clarification; I will promptly add the credit. It is a great picture! Thanks.
depending on fossil fuel is always a bad idea, we should always concentrate on renewable energy’
Hi Ellis,
I agree with you that we need to focus on renewable energy sources but it is also important that we preserve our natural environment (today April 22 is Earth Day !). 25 miles of wind turbines taller than the Seattle Space Needle on ridges overlooking a major metropolitan area where the wind blows less than 25 % of the time (most of it in the spring when we have a lot of hydropower from the dams) is a terrible idea. How about solar panels on rooftops and warehouses (Amazon just built 2 giant warehouses here in Pasco and they don’t show any solar panels). Do we really need the cryptocurrency server farms that use the energy used by a town of 400,000? Thanks for your comment.