Call to Action: Sign Petition to Oppose the Horse Heaven Wind Project

The Horse Heaven Wind Project is under evaluation by the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) who will make a recommendation on the project to Governor Inslee following their next meeting on January 24. TC CARES, a local organization that opposes the project, has started a petition to send to EFSEC prior to their meeting.

SIGN THE PETITION

Why should I sign the petition?
There has been significant concern about the negative impact that this project would have, particularly considering the 231 wind turbines that exceed the height of the Space Needle, spread over such a vast area (a 25-mile corridor encompassing 72,000 acres).

Why the Chamber opposes the project:
We believe that specific impacts to the Tri-Cities economy and quality-of-life have been inadequately addressed and concerns dismissed as trivial results of necessary clean energy development. The Regional Chamber sent a letter of opposition to the project to Gov. Jay Inslee and EFSEC Chair Kathleen Drew in April 2021.

While we refrain from interpreting the science and facts beyond our area of expertise, there remain significant unanswered questions and poorly addressed conclusions. In a 2021 survey, 2,220 respondents and our partners indicated that they had unanswered questions regarding:

• The true efficiency of the benefit of this project when compared to the 93% non-emitting energy resources already provided by the Greater Mid-Columbia Region.
• The long-term economic benefits of selecting this technology over proven alternatives for a region that supplies 40% of Washington’s non-emitting energy.
• The impacts to the $500 Million+ annually expended by consumers visiting Washington Wine Country’s vast unencumbered viewshed.
• Compared to the relatively unseen energy infrastructure of our community, the proximity of the project to our population center creates a disproportionate burden to the region’s nearly 300,000 residents.
• The infrastructure and resource needs of this project may result in reduced capacity for business development in more appropriate locations throughout the region.
• Light pollution through red, flashing aviation warning beacons - and the resultant safety factor of the mitigation strategy suggested for ‘timed periods of inactivity.’
• Obstruction of migratory bird paths, negative impacts to wildlife livelihood, and permanent damage to wildlife habitat.

 
Quick links

• Horse Heaven Wind Project Public Opinion Survey Results Summary
• Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce Letter of Opposition
• Visit Tri-Cities Letter of Opposition
• Benton PUD Analysis of Wind Farm Capacity
• Save Our Ridges