First Wind to form wildlife committee for wind farm

After public prodding, First Wind is creating a panel of Whitman County citizens to monitor wildlife impacts from its proposed wind farm.

First Wind has applied to site a 55-turbine wind farm on Naff Ridge, which runs north and south along the east side of Highway 195 northwest of Oakesdale.

The Boston-based company said Tuesday it will put together a technical advisory committee (TAC) made up of local citizens. The committee would watch how wildlife is impacted by the Palouse Wind turbine farm, specifically focusing on bird and bat mortality rates.

“This will give us another set of eyes and e...