**Steelhead Hosts Information Panel on Harvest Hills Wind Project**

On February 4th, Steelhead, a wind energy developer, held a moderated information panel at the WSU Lewis Alumni Center in Pullman. The event was attended by approximately 30 community members who gathered to hear about the proposed Harvest Hills Wind Project, which involves the installation of 45 turbines on privately owned land near Kamiak Butte.

The panel featured several speakers:

– **Shane Roche**, the lead developer for the project, provided an overview of the initiative.
– **Terry Wirkkala**, a senior project manager at ECOnorthwest, discussed the economic benefits and challenges associated with the project.
– **Josh Hohn**, Tetra Tech’s Visual Resources Discipline Lead, showcased updated visual simulations of the proposed wind farm.
– **Dave Phillips**, Director of Environmental Affairs for Steelhead, addressed environmental concerns and mitigation strategies.
– **Dr. Johnathan Rogers**, Lockheed Martin Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech, examined the potential impacts of the project on aviation.

The session included a Q&A portion, where community members could submit questions via cue cards. Organizer Rita Graham facilitated this segment.

A significant topic of discussion was the recent moratorium on wind turbine construction implemented by Whitman County Commissioners on January 8th. Community members expressed concerns about the possibility of Steelhead seeking permit approval through the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC), which would allow the company to bypass county regulations.

Responding to these concerns, Shane Roche stated, “Right now the county is working through a moratorium and updating the ordinance process, and we’re committed to working with the county through that process. I think we’re aligning what we want through responsible development to protect the rights of landowners and to make sure the entire community benefits.”

Additional concerns were raised regarding discrepancies between the project proposal and information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The panel clarified that since the final project layout is still under development, preliminary details were submitted to the FAA to manage airspace considerations. The speakers confirmed that the project plan includes exactly 45 turbines.

Questions also emerged about whether local tribes were reviewing the project due to the significance of the Kamiak and Steptoe Buttes and their viewsheds near the project area. Dave Phillips explained that the State Tribal Historic Preservation Officer guided them on which tribes to contact. A general project description was shared with potentially interested tribes, and two tribes expressed interest in participating in the consultation process.

This meeting followed a public hearing in Colfax, where numerous Whitman County residents urged commissioners to implement stricter regulations on wind farms. Steelhead announced that a complete recording of the meeting will be available at HarvestHillsWind.com, along with further information about the proposed wind farm.