WHAT’S GOING ON?

As many of you know, some of our neighboring landowners in Whitman County have chosen to sign 30+ year leases with Steelhead Americas (Vestas Corporation) for the Harvest Hills Wind Project - an industrial wind turbine development that aims to build 45 immense wind turbines on prime Palouse farmland around treasured Kamiak Butte.

Each wind turbine is projected to be up to 670’ tall - much larger than the existing turbines near Oakesdale and taller than the Space Needle. Some turbines could rise to nearly the same height as portions of the Kamiak Butte ridgeline. Prime Palouse soil will be removed and paved over for access roads, transmission lines will be built, and tons of concrete and steel will be placed deep into the Palouse soil for each turbine, which are known to leak oil, cause fires, and kill wildlife, and will destroy the enjoyment of our natural recreational sites and neighboring residential properties.

End-of-lifecycle remediation clauses are not protective and will never restore these lands to their pre-industrial turbine use. These leases favor companies over people and will be responsible for destroying the natural beauty of the Palouse. They will depress land values and enjoyment of property for neighbors, decimate tourism revenue, and change the unique identity and irreplaceable vistas of the Palouse’s trademark rolling hills. If we allow this to proceed without taking action, the heart of the Palouse will never be the same again.

WHO ARE WE?

We’re your neighbors, generational farm families, recreationalists, rural landowners, hunters, business owners, retirees, conservationists, current and former residents of the Palouse, and people of varied political persuasions – all in agreement that this will be detrimental to our community. Whitman County is uniquely worthy of thoughtful protection from industrial wind developments near its towns and in its more densely populated rural residential areas, including those surrounding important recreational landmarks like Kamiak Butte.

This is not an argument as to whether or not industrial wind is an efficient or viable source of energy. We are focused on the unified message that these critical areas in the very heart of the Palouse are NOT the right place for numerous massive wind turbines and these areas deserve urgent special protections at the County and State levels.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

Spread the Word - Sign and share the link to this petition to get the word out. Share the link to the petition on your social media platforms and send to others via email and text. Talk to your friends, neighbors, and representatives.

Join our Facebook Group – Find us at ‘Stop Kamiak Butte Industrial Wind Project’ where you can find meeting info, calls to action, and progress updates.

Share your Skills – Do you have a unique skillset or know someone who does? Please let us know how you can help.

Show Up Whenever Possible – We’ll need your presence at planning commission and county commissioner meetings.

Your voice is needed – please follow along and don’t be afraid to speak up and join in as we work together to save the uniquely beautiful Palouse from this one-way door.

Please check back to this petition as updates on the progress of this work to save our beautiful treasured landscape will be posted to this site.