Getting caught up here on some news that I missed.
I’ve written before about attempts by environmental groups to protect Steens Mountain from energy development.
Environmental groups wanted the state to add Steens Mountain to a list of places in Oregon where energy development is prohibited. But the Energy Facility Siting Council – which decides where large wind farms are located – recently rejected the idea.
The decision is a blow to the Oregon Natural Desert Association, Portland Audubon and other groups trying to keep wind turbines and other types of energy development away from the slopes of this Southeast Oregon icon.
The most immediate threat – in their view – are plans by Columbia Energy Partners of Vancouver to build three wind farms near Steens in Harney County. The three projects are located next to each other, totaling more than 300 megawatts of power and 120-180 turbines. Environmental groups say they should be treated as one single large project, instead of three smaller ones.
Oregon has a list of official State Protected Areas where energy development is off limits. It includes the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. ONDA and Audubon argued that Steens Mountain deserves to be on the list, too. They say large scale wind development threatens the wildlife and scenic values of Steens.
ONDA Executive Director Brent Fenty says, “There are appropriate places for energy development in Oregon’s high desert but Steens Mountain is not the right place. Steens is an area that the public has made clear should not be developed, but instead should be permanently protected for its iconic vistas and incredible wildlife habitat.”
It probably didn’t help matters that the EFSC meeting where the issue was decided was held in Harney County. Local officials are big supporters of the proposed wind farms because of the jobs they’d create during construction and operation of the facilities.
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Wind Farms, Sage Grouse, And Loopholes
