TOPPENISH, Wash. – A possible clean energy facility project known as the Horse Heaven Wind and Solar Project sparked an objection from the Yakama Nation, which alleges that the project area lies within a “significant location to the Yakama People.”
According to a release, in a 5-2 vote at a monthly council meeting on April 17, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) recommended the approval of the Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project. The vote follows a Feb. 2021 Application for Site Certification from Scout Clean Energy.
“By partially approving the Horse Heaven Wind and Solar project, EFSEC is balancing the need for renewable, clean energy with potential impacts on tribal cultural resources, wildlife, and surrounding communities,” said EFSEC Chair Kathleen Drew at the meeting. “We thank the hundreds of community members who took the time to participate and share their opinions on this project.”
However, a day later on April 18, the Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation objected to the project in a press release, stating that the project’s location in the Horse Heaven Hills will have “devastating impacts” to the Nation’s cultural and treaty-reserved resources.
Yakama Nation Chairman Gerald Lewis said the following in a statement:
“Yakama Nation appreciates and supports the Project modifications made to address wildlife impacts but remains discouraged by EFSEC’s failure to apply those same principles to cultural resources. Yakama Nation was not involved in the Project’s siting and design decisions and was instead forced to respond through a permitting process that prejudiced our ability to engage in meaningful dialogue about responsible energy siting. Still, we have provided EFSEC with ample evidence to recommend additional Project modifications to Governor Inslee, and are discouraged to see that evidence ignored by the majority of EFSEC Councilmembers.”
According to the Yakama Nation’s press release, the Nation asks Gov. Inslee to consider adding more changes to the project’s design.
Once EFSEC submits its formal recommendation package to Gov. Inslee, he will have 60 days to either approve the recommendation, reject the application or direct the council to reconsider parts of the project.
NonStop Local has reached out to EFSEC to provide a response to the Yakama Nation’s press release. A public information officer from EFSEC responded, saying that a decision on whether a statement will be made will come Mon. April 22.
