Washington set ambitious climate change goals, but installing wind farms is politically complicated [Video]

OLYMPIA, Wash. – When Governor Jay Inslee (D) signed the Climate Commitment Act in 2021, building new wind farms was one way the state expected to meet its goal of reducing emissions by 95% by 2050. But resistance to wind power is posing a challenge for the governor’s office.

Inslee asked the Washington Energy Facility Siting and Evaluation Council to reconsider certifying the proposed Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project in the Tri-Cities on Thursday after the council flagged concerns with how the farm could impact endangered species.

In his letter to Council Chari Kathleen Drew, Inslee cited the Climate Commitment Act and argued that the site was necessary for the state to meet its legally mandated greenhouse gas reduction goals.

“Based on my review of the record it is clear that with narrowly tailored mitigation, impacts to wildlife and habitat can be adequately mitigated…The Council should reconsider, however, certain mitigation measures that are overbroad,” Inslee said.

According to …