Gregoire approves 65 wind turbines for Kittitas

[jpak]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/332125_windturbines19.html

A controversial project to build 65 wind turbines in Kittitas County was given the go-ahead Tuesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Local landowners in the area near Cle Elum and Ellensburg fought the plan to build structures up to 410 feet tall to capture energy from the wind. They said it would destroy views and reduce property value, create noise and flickering shadows, and kill birds.

The project, which has been in the works for five years and is being proposed by Portuguese-owned Horizon Wind Energy, was scaled back from plans for 150 turbines.

Kittitas County commissioners last year rejected the wind farm as incompatible with local zoning rules. The state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council reversed that decision. Gregoire asked the siting council to reconsider the project and the council in August recommended it with revisions that could put the turbines 2,500 feet away from homes.

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[bbinacan]

1. Good news. We need

all the non fossil fuel we can get.

[diane in sf]

2. I'd have one in my backyard, especially if they were leasing the ground.

[bbinacan]

3. Me too. n/t