Horizon Welcomes Decision on Washington Wind Power Project

EFSEC, Washington State's permit review authority for utility-scale power plants concluded an exhaustive review of the proposed 65-turbine wind farm with a 6-1 vote in support of Horizon's application. EFSEC now forwards its recommendation to Washington's Governor Christine Gregoire who must choose to approve, deny or remand EFSEC's recommendation.

Chris Taylor, Horizon's Northwest Development Director said, "We're gratified by the Council's validation of our belief that the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project, particularly with passage of I-937, is important to the State of Washington." Initiative 937, which Evergreen State voters passed last November, requires that by 2020, 15% of the state's electricity be supplied by new renewable energy sources.

EFSEC reviewed well over a dozen independent studies of the Project site some of which were begun five years ago. The Council concluded that the KVWPP would create no significant negative environmental impacts. Horizon, in an unsuccessful effort to earn County government approval, downsized the original wind farm design it first announced in April 2002.

Regional environmental groups including the Cascade Chapter of Sierra Club, the Renewable Northwest Project, and the Northwest Energy Coalition, joined Kittitas County renewable energy advocates in actively supporting the proposed wind farm.