to my county - Skamania. We are in the midst of a fight concerning zoning, which is largely precipitated by, and focused on, a potential wind farm. It is very definitely a NIMBY problem, but the chief opponents are relatively thoughtful folks, who are asking primarily for a larger set-back.

The potential developer seems to be somewhat tentative, too. I think that they would be glad to see zoning that makes the permit process relatively free of public input, but I don't think that they will actually invest in the present market.

You may know that I live in the Columbia River Gorge, which is actually one of the highest-rated regions of the U.S. for wind-power. Much of our neighboring county, Klickitat, has about a 6 rating on the 7-point scale that the feds use, as it serves as part of an eastern funnel for the Gorge winds. Their main advantage is that the local economy is agricultural, and the farmers are grateful for the steady rental income and the cheap electricity.

paul spencer