What’s next for the Harvest Hills Wind Project on the Palouse

Whitman County Commissioners are considering a wind energy project on the Palouse near Kamiak Butte. 

Supporters say the project promotes renewable energy and economic growth. People against the wind farm have raised concerns over potential impacts on local landscapes, wildlife and property values.

The developer, Steelhead Americas, first proposed the Harvest Hills Wind Project to county commissioners about a year ago. The project could have up to 45 turbines. The project could have up to 45 turbines. Each turbine is around 400 feet tall, and each blade is about 260 feet long. An acre or more of land is needed for each turbine.

“It will provide some jobs, there’ll be some economic impact, from the construction part of the project, and there’ll be a lot of money spent in Whitman County,” said Whitman County Commissioner Tom Handy. 

County commissioners put a moratorium on the project in January to allow the county planning commission to evaluate the zoning and make recommendations for any changes. 

He said they want to ensure there will be enough money to restore the site to its original state if the project becomes inviable.

Handy said county commissioners are cautious about the wind project because they worry about land usage and its effects on residents than the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC).

Steelhead Americas’ focus, Handy said, is to find a location for the wind project, promote it and get it started; but he said the company wouldn’t be legally obligated to be involved beyond repairs outlined in the contract.

“They just come in and build it,” Handy said. “They get everything operational, and then they sell it … their role afterwards, when they say they’re going to be here for the duration of the project, is as a vendor.”

Whitman County commissioners plan to publish their new zoning rules and conditions once the moratorium is lifted. Those rules will be used for any future wind projects.

The pause is in effect until June.

Diana Romero is a Voces intern working in NWPB’s newsroom. Voces Internship of Idaho is an equity-driven internship program that strives to bring in new and needed voices to Idaho’s news landscape by opening doors for young Latino Idahoans to get professional paid experience to kick start their careers.