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Palouse Wind and residents clash over proposed wind-code language; developer warns of retroactive effects
Summary
During the March 2 meeting, representatives of Palouse Wind warned that SEPA 26-03 and proposed WCC 19.61 language could be read to apply retroactively to existing projects and impede repowering; residents and planning commissioners offered mixed views on protections for agriculture and scenic areas.
Courtney Krause, speaking on behalf of Palouse Wind, told the commissioners the company has significant local economic ties and cautioned that the draft code as written could create financial and contractual uncertainty if applied retroactively to existing turbines and repowering projects. "Palouse Wind has paid about $10M in property taxes over 10 years, about $5M to landowners over 5 years, and spends about $100K/year with local businesses," she said during the public-comment period.
Sean Elston, also representing Palouse Wind, called parts of the draft a "poison pill" for future wind development, specifically citing potential requirements to bury high-voltage transmission lines and decommissioning language that he said could require removal of large foundation portions. Supporters of the planning commission’s amendments, including some members of the commission, argued the package balances protections for landscape and agriculture with areas left available for development. Others urged the board to send the draft back for rework to avoid what they called arbitrary or overbroad restrictions.
