Columbia county eyes 351 more wind turbines

While the debate over potential industrial wind farms boils in Whitman County, neighbors to the south are facing a massive addition to their existing wind power infrastructure.

Columbia County last Thursday conducted a hearing on a conditional use permit application from Puget Sound Energy. Puget, which already has 87 turbines spinning in its Hopkins Ridge project, is asking officials in Columbia and Garfield counties permission to install an additional 351 wind turbines.

Like Whitman County, Columbia County has proponents and opponents of industrial wind farms.

James Peterson said Columbia Co...