Whitman County is exploring the possibility of wind power on the Palouse.

On Nov. 20, the Whitman County Board of Adjustment approved construction of two meteorological towers to measure if wind is a reliable energy source for the area.

“If data come back positively, the next step is to apply for a wind-generating facility,” County Planner Alan Thomson said.

Thomson said the towers are one step toward complying with Initiative 937, which mandates Washington utilities get at least 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. The initiative was put on the Washington ballot and passed in 2006.

“Clean, renewable energy is a big deal right now,” Thomson said. “Finding different energy sources is really important for the U.S.” The 40-foot testing towers will be placed west of Oakesdale and north of Rosalia.

Oakesdale resident Roger Whitten lives one mile south of the proposed tower location. He said he is opposed to construction of wind turbines near his home. Whitten said they cause noise pollution and potential environmental problems.

“My main problem with it is the loud, thumping noise they cause that’s incessant in nature,” he said. “It will deprive people of sleep.” First Wind, an independent wind energy company, first attempted to obtain a permit to build the towers in August, but was denied after Whitten pointed out that the towers were not listed under the county zoning code.

The Whitman County Planning Commission went back and amended the code to allow research towers up to 40 feet tall or taller with a conditional use permit, which allows operation for up to two years.

“We’ve been going through this (permit) process from August to November,” Thomson said. “It doesn’t normally take that long. A citizen objected so we had to go back and change the language.” Whitten was asked to leave a wind energy zoning workshop held by the Planning Commission on Nov. 19, Thomson said. Whitten said it was because he asked the commission how wind energy would benefit the public.

“The (wind power) industry pushed the initiative through, not the people,” he said. “The law forces utilities to purchase wind power, but the county is not obligated to do anything. They’re just going along with it. If people knew all the negatives, the initiative wouldn’t have passed.” Whitten said he is asking the Planning Commission to establish a 3,300-foot buffer zone to keep wind turbines at a safe distance from residents, but doesn’t feel he is getting anywhere.

Whitten said he doesn’t think the turbines will help the environment because I-937 doesn’t include hydroelectric power.

Pullman City Supervisor John Sherman said he is unsure why hydroelectric power wasn’t included in the initiative, but he supports the exploration of all clean energy sources.

He said this isn’t the first time wind power has been considered in the region.

“A number of studies have been done to test the possibility of wind-generated power in this area,” he said. “Avista concluded our potential for sustained wind energy is borderline at best.” Sherman said Avista is waiting to see what the towers could indicate about wind power capabilities in Whitman County.

“It’s not easy to meet the requirements of the new initiative,” he said. “We need to explore all alternative energy sources.”