Whitten appeals wind farm study

Roger Whitten of Oakesdale Tuesday continued his opposition to the proposed wind turbine project by appealing Whitman County’s study of the environmental impacts of First Wind’s proposed 65-turbine wind farm in north central Whitman County.

Citing concerns over public health and decreased property values, Whitten over the past two years has claimed that the county is not sufficiently protecting public health from low frequency sound produced by the turbines.

His appeal, filed in the county planning office Tuesday, repeated that assertion.

“Whitman County knows that famillies will be exposed to high levels of low frequency noise pollution, yet has failed to include this vitally important knowledge in its Environmental Impact Statement,” Whitten wrote in his appeal.

The Environmental Impact Statement was issued after county Planner Alan Thomson deemed it necessary after reviewing the wind farm under the State Environmental Policy Act. It was prepared by the engineering firm CH2M Hill.

The impact statement, finalized March 31, responded to noise complaints by Whitten and others by saying the project will meet applicable state and local noise regulations.

Whitten, as he has done since the county began crafting a wind farm ordinance in 2008, proposed sound waves be measured on the C scale, which registers low frequency noise, versus the A scale, which records audible sound.

CH2M Hill said Whitten’s request for a C scale noise measurements should be taken up with state or local lawmakers.

Whitten said hearing examiner Andrew Kottkamp, a Wenatchee attorney who will decide whether or not to grant First Wind permission to build the wind farm, could place a C scale requirement on the project.

Kottkamp will hear Whitten’s appeal and any others received by the planning office by today’s April 14 deadline. The appeals will be heard in conjunction with the conditional use permit hearing May 9.

Whitten predicted his appeal will be rejected by Kottkamp, but said he will continue his fight. Kottkamp’s decisions can be appealed in court.

“I’ll appeal it, sure,” Whitten said Monday. “I plan to take it through the whole process because I think it’s important to stand up to the injustice of it all.”

The conditional use permit, if issued, would lay out the requirements First Wind must meet to the county’s satisfaction in order to build its wind farm.

First Wind would have to acquire dozens of state and federal permits before it could proceed with the project.

Ben Fairbanks, northwest business development manager for First Wind, said in an interview Monday he also expects Kottkamp to approve the conditional use permit and reject Whitten’s appeal. He believed the statement sufficiently addressed concerns over public health.

Fairbanks said crews will likely begin building roads and concrete pads for the turbines this fall.

The Palouse Wind project is proposed to occupy portions of a 9,000 acre site on Naff Ridge and Steam Shovel Hill. Boundaries of the project are Blank Road to the north, Oakesdale Road to the south, State Route 271 on the east and Highway 195 on the west.

First Wind expects to generate 100 megawatts of electricity from as many as 65 turbines that could stand as high as 492 feet tall.

One megawatt can produce enough electricity to sustain 700 homes.