Whitman County, WA – The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) public comment hearing on Whitman County’s wind energy regulations made one thing abundantly clear: residents overwhelmingly oppose the Harvest Hills Wind Project and demand stronger protections for the Palouse.
The county has already enacted a temporary moratorium on industrial wind development, but at Monday night’s hearing, speaker after speaker urged the BOCC to ensure that county codes are permanently strengthened to prevent large-scale wind projects from desecrating Whitman County’s unique landscape: the world’s one and only Palouse.
Community Stands United Against Industrial Wind Exploitation
Despite Harvest Hills Wind’s aggressive PR campaign, the real voices of Whitman County spoke loud and clear: the Palouse is no place for reckless industrial development.
🔹 Farmers and rural residents described the devastating effects this project would have on soil stability, water access, and long-term agricultural productivity. Many emphasized that the Palouse’s fragile topography is fundamentally incompatible with industrial wind projects.
🔹 Environmental advocates detailed the irreversible destruction Harvest Hills would bring, including massive earthworks, carbon fiber pollution, and oil leaks from turbine components. Rather than responsibly siting this project elsewhere, Harvest Hills is trying to cut costs at the expense of one of Washington’s most delicate and irreplaceable landscapes.
🔹 Real estate experts warned that property values near industrial wind projects plummet, leaving families with devalued land and no recourse. Many also expressed frustration that Harvest Hills has refused to share accurate visual depictions of how these massive turbines will alter the landscape.
🔹 Advocates called for stronger county codes, warning that Whitman County’s outdated regulations leave the door open for exploitation by wind companies looking to bypass proper environmental and community review.
The overwhelming majority of attendees spoke in firm opposition, their words measured but unyielding, their frustration sharpened by the sense that outside interests had once again mistaken their home for an expendable commodity. One or two Harvest Hills supporters sat scattered in the room, their presence noted but inconsequential, dwarfed by the sheer force of resistance. At the back, Shane Roche and the Harvest Hills team sat somber and silent, watching as Whitman County residents dismantled their narrative piece by piece. There was no defense to mount, no counterpoint to offer—only the quiet, unavoidable fact that they were strangers here, unwelcome not for who they were, but for what they had brought.
A Moratorium is Not Enough—The County Must Act
While the temporary moratorium on industrial wind development remains in place, it is not a permanent solution. At the hearing, residents urged the BOCC to:
✔️ Strengthen county zoning codes to permanently restrict industrial wind projects in environmentally sensitive areas.
✔️ Prevent corporate influence over local land use policy, keeping decision-making in the hands of Whitman County residents—not outside energy corporations.
✔️ Enforce robust decommissioning protections and financial guarantees to prevent landowners and the county from being left with abandoned, non-operational turbines or costly cleanup obligations.
✔️ Enact stronger protections for nearby residents, including robust setbacks and limits on quality-of-life disruptions caused by industrial-scale wind turbines.
✔️ Clarify liability for wildfires and agricultural damage resulting from turbine malfunctions, ensuring that landowners who sign leases are fully responsible for any destruction caused by industrial wind operations.
✔️ Protect critical aviation infrastructure, including Colfax Airport operations and emergency medical helicopter access for rural residents, ensuring that large turbine placements do not interfere with flight paths.
What’s Next? Stay Engaged. Keep Up the Pressure.
The BOCC now faces mounting public pressure to enact strong, permanent protections for Whitman County. Save the Palouse urges all concerned residents to stay engaged, attend future hearings, and hold local officials accountable.
🔴 TAKE ACTION:
📢 Contact your county commissioners and demand strong, permanent zoning protections.
✍️ Sign the petition to oppose industrial wind expansion in the Palouse.
📅 Follow Save the Palouse for updates on county policy, public hearings, and legal developments.
Whitman County has taken the first step with a moratorium. Now, we must ensure that our county codes protect the Palouse for all future generations. 🚜🌾