Not very transparent

Recently, Harvest Hills Wind introduced us to their intended development of an industrial wind complex of 45 turbines in the vicinity of Kamiak Butte. They have presented themselves as wanting to be good neighbors and to work with our communities. Harvest Hills has told us they want to benefit us by expanding our tax base, helping our schools and providing new jobs to the area. Harvest Hills. Sounds nice doesn’t it? Power for 90,000 homes and new money for the county, how wonderful. What’s a few wind turbines among friends? Aren’t they supposed to be good for the environment? Right?

Let’s have a look at Harvest Hills. They have canvassed the area and signed contracts with landowners in the area surrounding Kamiak Butte well in advance of the knowledge of their neighbors. These contracts have a non-disclosure clause that prevents the signees from talking about the contract. That’s not entirely unusual, but it’s not very transparent.

There’s a lot we don’t know. Here’s one for starters. There is a letter that is public information from the Federal Aviation Administration to Harvest Hills in response to their application for 95, not 45, wind turbines in the shadow of Kamiak Butte. The letter says these new machines will be 699 feet tall. The Space Needle is 604 feet tall. Most of the land Harvest Hills wants is already 2500 to 3000 feet above sea level. Put a 699 foot wind turbine on it and some of these monstrosities will be higher than both Steptoe and Kamiak Butte. You will be able to see wind turbines anywhere you can see either of these two iconic landmarks. You will be able to see them from Pullman. You will be able to see them from Idaho. I’ll bet you didn’t know that. When was Harvest Hills going to tell you?

Bill Myers

Colfax