Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and the state agency responsible for authorizing energy projects overstepped state law when they approved a controversial energy project south of Kennewick, allege three new lawsuits.
Benton County, Tri-Cities CARES and the Yakama Nation followed up on their November promises to sue to curtail Scout Clean Energy from developing a massive wind, solar and battery farm along a 24-mile stretch of the Horse Heaven Hills.
Separate suits filed in Thurston County Superior Court ask a judge to allow their claims to go directly before the Washington State Supreme Court.
670-foot turbines?
Scout, based in Boulder, Colo. and owned by a Canadian investment firm, secured approval this fall to install wind turbines as tall as 670 feet, along with solar arrays and battery energy storage, on the prominent ridge-line visible from the Tri-Cities.
The Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) recommended the governor approve it and he signed the site certificate agreement in October.