With a round of applause, the Whitman County Planning Commission decided unanimously Wednesday to pass the proposed wind energy ordinance on to the Board of County Commissioners.

“Personally, I am comfortable with what we have worked out,” planning commission chairman Guy Williams said. “It has been a long, arduous process. I think we have done due diligence to the project and I, myself, am in favor of doing just that and pass it on to the county commissioners.” The ordinance, which was first brought before the planners in 2007, sets the guidelines residents need to follow to put commercial wind farms on their property.

The ordinance has faced opposition, and the planning commission held a public forum on Sept. 16. After hearing the testimony of different community members at the forum, the commission decided to delay voting on the ordinance until Wednesday.

Multiple members of the the commission said they were influenced by the public comments.

Rick Finch, one of the members of the planning commission, said the people who were in favor of the wind farms had the better argument, in his opinion.

“I have been somewhat swayed by their testimony and find their arguments credible,” he said.

Studies were also cited by the opposition, but Finch said he did more extensive research and found many of the studies were not based on scientific fact. This comparison of arguments was the reason he decided to vote to pass the ordinance, he said.

One of the biggest deterrents in the passing of the ordinance was determing setbacks, or how far from neighboring property lines the turbines must be placed. The final decision was to have the distance equal to five times the tower height.

Finch said having the distance five times the tower height would not alleviate the worries of most opponents. The guidelines are easier to make more stringent, not less stringent in the future, he said. Finch said he thought having four times the tower height would be more appropriate.

Archie Neal, another member of the planning commission, said he thought the five times the tower height should be enforced, if not increased.

He said he drove with his wife near Arlington, where there are many wind farms. The sound was immense, he said.

“I would hate to live by (a wind turbine),” Neal said. “It ought to be increased, but I don't think that would be practical.” Williams said every side was taken into account as the details of the project were finalized.

“We are trying to open up commercial wind energy. We are trying to protect property owners’ rights,” Williams said. “From the lifestyle we have created on the Palouse to commercial opportunities, it is a balancing act.”