Whitman County has extended a moratorium on new wind farm applications for six months after officials failed to notify affected tribal nations prior to a scheduled vote on an updated ordinance. Originally set to expire on January 7, 2026, the moratorium will now last until June 28, 2026.
County Planner Alan Thompson had issued a determination of nonsignificance in November, indicating that the proposed ordinance would not have a “probable significant adverse impact on the environment.” However, this determination was not communicated to the tribal governments that may be impacted, as mandated by Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act. The determination was sent to the state’s Department of Ecology and other agencies, but the oversight regarding tribal notifications led to the current extension.
Upon discovering the error, Tom Handy, chair of the Whitman County Commission, stated that the county will withdraw the determination and resubmit it to relevant agencies and the seven tribes in Eastern Washington and North Idaho that could be affected. The tribes will receive notification after a public notice is published in the Whitman County Gazette, allowing them a period of 14 days to comment.
The county commission plans to vote on the updated ordinance on February 2, 2026. Handy noted that the commission has the option to lift the moratorium at any point before it expires in June.
The planning commission has spent over a year drafting updates to the ordinance, which first originated in 2009 and governs the Palouse Wind Farm in the northern region of the county. Following a public hearing on December 17, 2025, the planning commission provided its final recommendations to the county commissioners.
Though Whitman County does not host any Native American reservations, various tribes with ancestral ties to the Palouse region regard natural landmarks such as Kamiak Butte as culturally significant. Local advocacy group Save the Palouse argues that a proposed wind project near the Kamiak Butte County Park would damage the unique landscape.
Steelhead Americas has secured leases for thousands of acres on farms north of Kamiak Butte, where it intends to construct approximately 45 wind turbines, each reaching nearly 700 feet in height, as part of the Harvest Hills Wind Project. Handy indicated that the proposed ordinance would effectively hinder this project due to its proximity to Kamiak Butte.
He stated, “It pretty much overrides what they have planned because of the proximity to Kamiak Butte.” Nevertheless, Steelhead could still seek a permit from the state’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, which has the authority to override local ordinance restrictions. Handy acknowledged the complexity of the situation, saying, “The company could always just go to the state.”
The revised ordinance aims to establish specific setbacks for turbine placements to protect valuable landscapes. It proposes a seven-mile setback from Kamiak Butte County Park, Steptoe State Park, and Palouse Falls State Park. Other protected lands would enforce one-mile setbacks, including the Palouse to Cascades Trail and all county parks. Incorporated communities would necessitate two-mile setbacks, while turbines must be positioned at least 1.5 times their height from all buildings. Furthermore, unless a landowner agrees, turbines must be set at least six times their height from adjacent property lines.
In addition to the wind farm ordinance, the planning commission is also working on regulations for solar and battery storage facilities, reflecting an ongoing effort to address the evolving energy landscape in the region.
