If the project approved, Desert Claim project would be the fourth wind project destined for Kittitas County.
Project director David Steeb said the revised application is an effort to respond to county concerns about the impact of 350-foot towers on nearby homes.
The county has rejected the application nearly four years back, a position that was upheld by Kittitas county Superior Court.
The company has decided to receive approval to the state agency, created almost 40 years ago to provide one-stop licensing for large energy projects.
Steeb said the revised project adds more towers and more power generation to meet the region’s increasing energy needs.
The preliminary application to the county five years ago included 90 turbines that would generate 180 MW of energy.
Steeb also said the revised application lessens from 29 to 7 the number of homes that would remain within a 2,500-foot setback from the turbines.
We came up with a project that delivers more power, reduces the number of nonparticipating residences and deliver a strong project for jobs, income and tax revenues, Steeb added.
Steeb said the wind project will create 160 jobs with a total payroll of $3.6 million during construction and $970,000 in annual operating payrolls.
Developers said a draft economic study by Central Washington University economists expects Desert Claim will generate $900,000 in annual property tax revenues to Kittitas county, schools and a fire district.
