
Governor Jay Inslee is pushing for a green power push, demanding regulators to quickly reevaluate a proposal for a wind farm in Central Washington. Inslee issued a directive Thursday for the Energy Facility Siting and Evaluation Council (EFSEC) to narrowly look again at their proposed certification for the Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project, as per a statement on the governor's official website.
Inslee seeks to ensure the wind farm can fully meet its energy generation potential, thus bolstering the state's portfolio of renewable energy sources. To this end, he is urging the council to "return to me their approval of this project application that appropriately prioritizes the state's pressing clean energy needs," noted in the information provided by the governor's office. This move will help fully harness wind power to address Washington's burgeoning demand for clean electricity.
The governor, who acts quasi-judicial in these matters, must decide based solely on the council's findings. This means all his directives must be founded on the groundwork laid out by the EFSEC. Inslee's formal letter pressured the council to expedite their reconsideration process and respond within 90 days.
Once the council revisits the plan, they are to amend the draft site certification and resubmit it to the governor, who must decide to either greenlight or halt the project. Inslee's involvement underscores the state's commitment to swiftly expanding clean energy infrastructure amidst an increased nationwide focus on sustainability and climate change mitigation efforts.