Bills to evaluate wind turbines, help cities share tax revenue pass committees
By Terry Murry on Thursday, February 1st, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – Two separate bipartisan bills, one that would require a comprehensive evaluation on the impacts on wildfire firefighting before permitting new wind turbines, and the second which would allow help local governments share tax revenue, have passed out of committees this week.
Rep. Stephanie Barnard (R-Pasco) is concerned about tall wind turbines getting in the way of aerial firefighting efforts. She said it was a close call during a wildfire that burned on a hillside Tri-Cities’ neighborhood last summer.
“A DC-10 came in, dropped the retardant, and that is what saved those homes. What would happen if there were 700-foot turbines up on top of those hills? Really that’s the problem,” Barnard said.
Under Barnard’s bill, House Bill 2117, the Department of Natural Resources would have to determine if a wind turbine would impact the ability to fight wildfires with helicopters and airplanes.
Meantime, House Bill 2428 from Rep. Mark Klicker (R-Walla Walla) would allow towns to voluntarily enter interlocal agreements to share a portion of general-purpose local government sales and use tax revenue.
“By allowing cities the option to voluntarily enter interlocal agreements, it would eliminate the competition between these cities for the coveted sales tax revenue,” Klicker said.
Klicker adds this legislation would be very applicable to Walla Walla and College Place – two cities in his district.
“They work together on just about everything, primarily with infrastructure, including efforts to recruit larger scale retail to the area, for example,” he said. “Many times, even though they are using their sales or use tax, they dovetail together, so this bill would be a win-win for cities and towns like this all over the state.”
