An inconvenient view

Climate change is forcing society to revise its values — and it's not going to be easy.

Case in point is Kittitas County's disappointment in a state panel's approval of a controversial 65-turbine wind farm proposed northwest of Ellensburg. County officials oppose the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project, saying it violates local zoning. The region that already can note climate change in the nearby mountains will have to accommodate landscape-altering wind turbines, under a permit proposed by the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. The panel ruled last week the county's rules usurp its authority and that it intends to recommend Gov. Christine Gregoire approve the wind farm. The county and an opposition group have asked the council to reconsider.

Washington needs more wind energy — especially after voters approved Initiative 937 requiring utilities to use more non-hydropower renewable energy.

Wind farms can't go just anywhere. This part of Kittitas County — where the air whistles and molds tree branches to grow in one direction — is ideal.

Proposed by Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy, the wind farm would have a full generation capacity of 130 megawatts, but produce an average of one-third that amount since it runs only when the wind blows. The turbines — 410 feet from tip to ground — would run along either side of U.S. Highway 97.

Most objections have to do with how the turbines will alter the landscape. The sparsely populated area is developing with vacation homes nearby, and some local officials are concerned about tourism.

But the state's proposed permit has reasonable limitations, including setbacks and a requirement to turn off the turbines in some conditions to prevent "shadow flicker."

The landscape will be different, to be sure. But the turbines can contribute to staving off starker changes.