Dozens of individuals provided recommendations for new regulations on wind farms in Whitman County during a public hearing held on Monday night.

The hearing, organized by the Whitman County Commissioners, followed the board’s decision last month to impose a six-month moratorium on new commercial wind turbines. This moratorium aims to give the county time to revise its regulations concerning wind farms. The decision coincides with a proposal from Steelhead Americas, a Portland-based company, to develop a wind farm featuring 45 turbines on leased private land near Kamiak Butte, north of Pullman. This proposal has faced significant opposition from a coalition of local residents known as Save the Palouse.

During the hearing, residents were given the opportunity to suggest new restrictions for wind turbines. Approximately 35 individuals spoke before the board in a full meeting attended by around 50 people at the Public Service Building in Colfax. Many of the proposals emphasized the need for increased setback requirements between properties and wind turbines, including input from Save the Palouse President Rick McNannay.

Residents also proposed that the board implement fire mitigation standards for the wind turbines and enhance protections for aircraft traffic, including nearby airports and airstrips. Recommendations were made to strengthen the county’s decommissioning code to ensure that defunct wind farms are restored to productive farmland.

A few local residents expressed support for the wind farm, asserting that the current regulations are adequate; one such speaker was Pullman resident and Nez Perce Tribal Member Julian Matthews.

Commissioner Art Swannack acknowledged that certain aspects of the code require improvement. The county commissioners will consider the public input gathered during the hearing to guide the county’s planning commission in updating the rules for wind farms. The planning commission will revise the code and provide additional opportunities for public comment before presenting recommendations to the county commissioners, who will make the final decisions.