KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA | Public Speaks Out About Proposed Kittitas County Wind Farms

Public Speaks Out About Proposed Kittitas County Wind Farms

ELLENSBURG, Wash - A lot of opinions being heard Tuesday night about whether a wind farm should be built in Kittitas County.  The main topic in the hearing was how close wind turbines can be to homes in the proposed area for the project.  However, people still gave an overall opinion on the project.

Everything was approved then the Governor Gregoire said to take a closer look at "set back," which is the distance a wind turbine is from a home.  Several different distances were discussed. 

Some people feel they just want to get the process over with, while others see no need for the project at all.

"I really think the majority of the approximate 38,000 residence of Kittitas County care little about who decides this issue.  As long as we use a little objectivity and common sense," an audience member said at the forum.

"All I can find is that there is no benefit to our community, other than specific people that will be payed to put windmills on their property," explained Bill Fitzgerald, who owns property near where the proposed wind farm would go.

Once a state energy commission and county officials decide what the distance should be between a turbines and homes, they will try to get approval again from the governor.