County will take 2-mile setback fight to the Oregon Supreme Court

By Terry Murry on Thursday, August 17th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

UMATILLA COUNTY – The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners has voted 2-1 to appeal a ruling regarding the county’s two-mile setback ordinance between windmills and homes. The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council ruled it didn’t have to abide by the county ordinance in regard to the Nolin Hills Wind Project.

Commissioners John Shafer and Cindy Timmons voted in favor of appealing that ruling to the Oregon Supreme Court. Shafer said he felt it was important to the citizens to try and protect the two-mile setback rule.

“I felt it was important that we go as far as we could with the fight,” he said. “I wanted to make sure that our citizens had their voices heard all the way up to and including the Supreme Court.”

Shafer said the county needed to notify its attorney who needed time to prepare for a further fight if it was coming. He said he could not in good conscience allow the state to negate county ordinances without fighting.

“For me, if we did nothing, the precedent was set,” he said. “From that vantage point, I felt that it was important we go as far as we could with the fight.”

The one ‘no’ vote came from Board of Commissioners Chairman Dan Dorran.