Massive clean energy project caught in legal crosswinds at WA Supreme Court

Washington’s desire to accelerate clean energy development will be in the spotlight Thursday when the state Supreme Court considers whether a state panel and a former governor bypassed permitting requirements en route to approving a major wind farm.

Opponents of the Horse Heaven wind project contend that, in looking to act expeditiously, the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council and former Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee failed to properly account for the project’s negative impacts on the environment, surrounding communities and tribal cultural resources.

Tri-Cities CARES, Benton County and the Yakama Nation filed separate petitions seeking to overturn the final decision issued in October 2024. Justices consolidated the petitions and will hear arguments at 10 a.m. Thursday.

At stake is the future of a massive wind, solar and battery storage project envisioned on roughly 72,500 acres along Interstate 82 south of the Tri-Cities. More broadly, if the court sides with the project’s foes, it will seriously crimp state efforts to reduce Washington’s reliance on power generated from fossil fuels.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/06/10/massive-clean-energy-project-caught-in-legal-crosswinds-at-wa-supreme-court/