The Whitman County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Monday night to gather comments regarding updates to the county’s regulations for wind farms.

Earlier this month, the commissioners implemented a six-month moratorium on new commercial wind turbine applications. This decision coincides with a proposal from Steelhead Americas for a 45-turbine wind farm near Kamiak Butte, located north of Pullman. The proposal has generated a notable response from local residents, leading to the formation of a group called Save the Palouse, which has expressed opposition to the development near the National Natural Landmark.

The moratorium mandates that the commissioners conduct a public hearing to discuss the potential updates to wind turbine regulations. This hearing is scheduled for Monday night at 5:30 PM in the Public Service Building on Main Street in Colfax. For those unable to attend in person, the hearing will also be available for remote participation via this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7336328211#success. Comments can be submitted in advance of the hearing by noon on Monday to [email protected].

The feedback collected during the public hearing will inform the county’s planning commission as they work on updating the wind turbine regulations. This process will include further opportunities for public input, after which the planning commission will present their recommendations to the county commissioners for final approval.