Palouse - Wind Turbines

PALOUSE
Giant Wind turbines are coming to the Palouse.

I am not sure if you heard, but, our beautiful Palouse and the majestic landscape is slated to be significantly altered and impacted by the placement of 45 additional, massive (650’ tall) commercial wind turbines. They will be placed in the area around Kamiak Butte and extending both east and north to SR 272 and west to Parvin Road and SR 195.

Imagine looking out at sunrise from the top of Steptoe Butte and seeing giant commercial wind turbines skewed across the landscape obscuring 50% to 70% of the visual landscape.

A relatively new commercial wind company headquartered in Portland Oregon, has been rapidly and without seeking public comment, securing leases with local farmers to build their commercial wind energy facilities here on the Palouse. Not only have they secured leases with a few local farmers to place the 45 commercial wind turbines as mentioned above, but, are active in securing more leases around the Palouse in prime agricultural areas and on some of the most photographic areas in our region.

The wind energy company is claiming their commercial wind facilities “will bring a new source of revenue” into the Palouse area. They fail to acknowledge (similarly to the previous wind companies - north of Steptoe Butte) that the amount of “photo-tourism” will be impacted by additional commercial wind energy facilities, especially if placed in some of the most picturesque areas on the Palouse.

Photographers bring a significant amount of revenue into our Palouse communities that supports many businesses and jobs, not to mention adding to the tax base that is substantially greater than the revenue from commercial wind facilities.

Some county officials are poised to endorse the commercial wind companies while ignoring all the facts and geological history of the Palouse. They also fail to recognize the Palouse is one of the most popular landscape destinations in the world and is often referred to as the “Tuscany of North America”. Our goal is to preserve the history, heritage, and beauty of the Palouse for generations to come.

We need your help, by highlighting the importance of preserving the heart of the Palouse is to the photographic community.

We are also asking, that individual photographers and photography tour/workshop leaders send me a brief email, message, letter, or text describing (testimonial):

• What does the Palouse means to you?
• What is unique about the Palouse region compared to other photographic destinations?
• As a photographer, why do you travel to the Palouse to photograph our region?
• Why do you conduct photography tours/workshops here on the Palouse?

I will share your remarks with the county officials that are involved in permitting the commercial wind companies to demonstrate the importance and impact photography has on our communities, something they fail to recognize.

Not opposed to renewable energy: I want to make it clear, we are not opposed to renewable energy, but, just not in the heart of the Palouse. There are several areas within the more than 2,000,000 acres of land to locate those commercial wind energy facilities that will not disrupt farming practices, scar the landscape, and most importantly to those of us that live within close proximity to the wind turbines, place us at risk of serious physical health.

Again, I am not asking you to oppose commercial wind energy facilities but, to oppose the siting of these massive wind turbines on some of the most photographed sectors of the Palouse.

Thank you for considering my request to preserve what we frequently call, “The Tuscany of North American” and what National Geographic referred to as, “A Paradise Called the Palouse” (June 1982).

Jack Lien
Email: [email protected]
Text: (360) 481-4575
US Mail: PO Box 246, Colfax, WA 99111