Re: “Proposal for WA’s largest renewable energy project shows challenges for future” [Nov. 4, Environment]:
The controversy surrounding the Horse Heaven Clear Power Heart mission underscores the necessity for a collaborative method that attracts on tribal and environmental experience and yields clear advantages to native communities.
Persevering with down the present “business-as-usual” path to wash vitality siting beckons extra controversy, stalled tasks, and unmitigable impacts on the surroundings, cultural assets, and communities.
Fortuitously, new assets can be found that may assist. Washington State College’s complete Least Battle Photo voltaic Siting research and the state Division of Ecology’s forthcoming Programmatic Environmental Impression Statements for photo voltaic and onshore wind supply landscape-scale analyses that may inform sensible siting choices early within the planning course of.
Audubon’s analysis exhibits that local weather change is the best menace to birds. We’re staunch supporters of the transition to wash vitality and are dedicated to offering suggestions to builders and allowing authorities to information the event of fresh vitality tasks that reduce impacts to birds and wildlife. Coupled with tribal engagement, builders can construct tasks that keep away from, reduce, and mitigate impacts to pure and cultural assets.
We urge decision-makers to make use of the assets out there to them to advance clear vitality growth within the state whereas adopting options that honor tribal, environmental, and group values.
Trina Bayard, Ph.D., director of hen conservation and interim government director, Audubon Washington
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