3 lawsuits claim Inslee, regulators sidestepped state law to approve Eastern WA wind farm

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.

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