{"id":2341466,"date":"2024-09-15T16:09:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-15T20:09:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tri-cities-wind-solar-project-moving-forward-after-friday-vote-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-15T16:20:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-15T20:20:04","slug":"tri-cities-wind-solar-project-moving-forward-after-friday-vote-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tri-cities-wind-solar-project-moving-forward-after-friday-vote-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Tri Cities wind\/solar project moving forward after Friday vote &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftri-cities-wind-solar-project-moving-forward-after-friday-vote-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2341466&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Tri Cities\u2063 wind \u2064and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/solar-farms-spark-civil-war-in-virginia\/\" title=\"Solar Farms Spark Civil War in Virginia\">solar project<\/a>, officially \u200bknown as the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center, has received approval \u200bfrom the Washington \u200cEnergy Facility\u200b Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) after a\u2062 narrow 4-3 vote. This decision comes after three years\u2064 of study and revised recommendations were made \u2063to accommodate concerns regarding environmental \u200bimpacts,\u2064 particularly related to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scientists-clone-endangered-american-animal-for-first-time\/\" title=\"Scientists Clone Endangered American Animal For First Time\">endangered species<\/a> and Native American cultural \u2063sites.\u2064 The project, led by Scout Clean Energy, is expected to feature either 222 wind turbines or\u200b fewer taller turbines, along \u2062with solar arrays and battery storage, \u2062spanning approximately \u200d24 miles \u200cin southeastern Washington.<\/p>\n<p>Governor Jay Inslee initially\u200d advocated for a\u200d more \u2064tailored approach to\u2064 mitigate negative impacts,\u200b leading to a revision that faced \u200copposition from several \u2064council members who expressed concerns\u2063 about its effects on local communities and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/native-american-tribes-now-have-power-to-veto-hydropower-projects\/\" title=\"Native American tribes can now reject hydropower projects\">traditional lands<\/a>. Rep. \u2063Mary Dye criticized the approval process, suggesting that community feedback was largely ignored, leading to feelings of marginalization among local residents. Additionally, water \u2063rights issues in the \u200darid project area remain\u200c a concern, although \u200dEFSEC staff indicated they do not foresee \u200csignificant problems in that regard.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Tri Cities wind\/solar project moving forward after Friday vote<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1760336\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; Gov. Jay Inslee is largely getting what he asked for in a vote approving a large new wind and solar project in southeastern Washington.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In a meeting and final vote Friday afternoon that lasted just over 16 minutes, members of the WA Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council voted 4-3 in favor of approving a revised project recommendation to allow construction of the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center just outside the Tri Cities.<\/p>\n<p>The project run by Scout Clean Energy, a company that was recently purchased by a Canadian investment firm, may ultimately include 222 turbines about 500 feet tall or 141 turbines about 670 feet tall. There will also be solar arrays and battery storage, stretching from Horse Heaven Hills just south of Kennewick for about 24 miles from Finley to Benton City.<\/p>\n<p>As previously reported by The Center Square, EFSEC spent three years studying the project before recommending to Gov. Jay Inslee in April that the project move ahead but with fewer wind turbines as it had proposed. EFSEC reduced the size of the project to protect endangered ferruginous hawks, Native American traditional lands and skyline views from much of the Tri-Cities.<\/p>\n<p>Inslee pushed back on the recommendations, arguing the mitigation measures should be more specifically tailored and he requested a revised approval of the project &ldquo;that appropriately prioritizes the state&rsquo;s pressing clean energy needs.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>After EFSEC discussion following Inslee&rsquo;s request, the council&rsquo;s staff came up with a proposal that would impact about three dozen proposed turbines, and that revised project was approved Friday afternoon in a 4-3 vote with EFSEC members from the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Benton County voting against the revised proposal.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was not able to support the original SCA (Site Certification Agreement) to the governor because I felt that the SCA did not sufficiently reduce impacts to Yakama Nation&rsquo;s traditional cultural properties and my initial concern in this area is only heightened by the revision that the council just voted on,&rdquo; said Lenny Young, EFSEC&rsquo;s representative from the Washington Department of Natural Resources, who voted no.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, told The Center Square just after the vote late Friday it was a sad day for citizen led government.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Communities like the Tri Cities put forward in the legal process their concerns and they won in court and then it had no value,&rdquo; said Dye who has been fighting the project for years. &ldquo;They had no consideration for the people in the community who have been totally marginalized.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Water rights for the project area could be an issue going forward.<\/p>\n<p>That came up early in the Friday meeting with a staff member for EFSEC suggesting use of water rights in the area of the project is something that had been brought to the attention of the council, but ultimately determined &ldquo;staff does not anticipate&rdquo; any issues with water rights.<\/p>\n<p>Dye said the water rights matter is huge.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a desert in an irrigation district and there are constraints on the use of water permits,&rdquo; said Dye. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s first in time and first in rights.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dye said water is the agricultural engine of the economy in the Tri Cities.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a priceless resource for economic development and they&rsquo;re using this resource for construction of an industrial energy facility in an area that is prime irrigated agricultural land,&rdquo; said Dye.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An email from EFSEC staff to The Center Square following the vote read in part: &ldquo;The council shall resubmit the draft certification to the governor incorporating any amendments deemed necessary upon reconsideration. Within 60 days of receipt of such <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-clean-energy-project-mired-in-no-mans-land-amid-planning-setbacks\/\" title=\"Challenges Delay Washington Clean Energy Project\">draft certification agreement<\/a>, the governor shall either approve the application and execute the certification agreement or reject the application. The certification agreement shall be binding upon execution by the governor and the applicant.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dye said she is already working on draft legislation to amend policies and procedures for EFSEC in hopes of avoiding an opportunity for the governor to have undue influence once the council makes its recommendations on projects in the future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1760336\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1760336\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tri Cities wind\/solar project advances following Friday&#8217;s vote (The Center Square) \u2013 Governor Jay Inslee is mostly receiving what he requested with the approval of a significant new wind and solar initiative in southeastern Washington. During a brief meeting and final vote on Friday afternoon, which lasted just over 16 minutes, the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council voted 4-3 in favor of a revised recommendation to permit the construction of the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center located near the Tri Cities. This project, managed by Scout Clean Energy\u2014recently acquired by a Canadian investment firm\u2014may feature either 222 turbines standing approximately 500 feet tall or 141 turbines reaching about 670 feet tall. Additionally, it will include solar panels and battery storage spanning from Horse Heaven Hills south of Kennewick for roughly 24 miles from Finley to Benton City. As previously reported by The Center Square, EFSEC dedicated three years to studying this project before advising Governor Inslee in April that it should proceed but with fewer wind turbines than initially proposed. The council scaled back the project&#8217;s size to safeguard endangered ferruginous hawks, Native American cultural sites, and scenic views across much of the Tri-Cities area. Inslee expressed concerns regarding these recommendations, arguing that mitigation measures should be more specifically tailored; he requested an updated approval for the project that would better address Washington&#8217;s urgent clean energy requirements. Following discussions prompted by Inslee\u2019s request, EFSEC staff developed a proposal affecting around three dozen proposed turbines; this revised plan was approved on Friday afternoon with a narrow 4-3 vote against opposition from members representing the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Benton County. Lenny Young from EFSEC stated his inability to support the original Site Certification Agreement due to insufficient protections for Yakama Nation\u2019s cultural properties\u2014a concern heightened by recent revisions.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Mary Dye (R-Pomeroy) expressed disappointment after Friday&#8217;s vote: \u201cIt\u2019s disheartening for citizen-led governance.\u201d She noted that communities like Tri Cities had raised their concerns through legal channels only to see them disregarded afterward: \u201cThey had no consideration for marginalized community voices.\u201d Water rights issues may pose challenges moving forward; during Friday&#8217;s meeting an EFSEC staff member mentioned potential water rights concerns but concluded there were no anticipated issues related to them. Dye emphasized that water rights are critical: \u201cThis is desert land within an irrigation district where water permits are limited,\u201d she explained while highlighting its importance as an agricultural resource vital for economic development in Tri Cities.<\/p>\n<p>Following the vote, an email from EFSEC staff indicated they would resubmit draft certification incorporating necessary amendments upon reconsideration; within two months after receiving this draft agreement, Governor Inslee must either approve or reject it\u2014the certification will be binding once signed by both him and the applicant.<\/p>\n<p>Dye mentioned she is already drafting legislation aimed at amending policies governing EFSEC procedures in hopes of preventing undue influence from future governors once council recommendations are made on projects<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2341467,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/iStock-1369992870-1024x439.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[40945,40943,40944],"class_list":["post-2341466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-solar-energy","tag-tri-cities","tag-wind-energy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/iStock-1369992870-1024x439.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2341466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2341466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2341466\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2341467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2341466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2341466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2341466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}