Washington Gov. Jay Inslee didn’t like the restrictions the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council placed on the proposed Horse Heaven solar and wind energy project, and has sent the recommendation back to the council for another look.

Inslee wants the project to proceed as proposed, and doesn’t seem to care about its impact on threatened species, Indian tribe cultural resources or neighboring communities. Nothing can be allowed to stand in the way of the state’s alternative energy policy, or the Inslee green legacy.

In 2021, Scout Clean Energy, a company based in Boulder, Colo., applied to build a massive project that would include up to 222 wind turbines on a 25-mile stretch of farmland and more than 5,000 acres of solar panels on farmland near the Tri-Cities.

Wind and solar power generated by the Horse Heaven project would connect to Bonneville Power Administration lines and be distributed, including potentially to out-of-state customers.

If completed as proposed, Horse Heaven would be the state’s largest renewable energy project. It ran into opposition from a variety of interests from the beginning.

Benton County commissioners oppose the project, but lack the authority to block development. Farm groups worry the project will impact the local ag infrastructure. Other groups say the project will ruin the natural beauty of the area and disturb the landscape. The turbines would be visible in Franklin and Walla Walla counties, as well as Oregon.

A draft Environmental Impact Statement suggests the project likely will disturb nesting ferruginous hawks and spinning blades will be a hazard to the birds.

The Yakama Nation opposes the project, alleging it will destroy wildlife habitat. Elders also contend the project would destroy or block spiritual sites and places tribal members gather food and medicines.

Opponents have also challenged the council’s processes, particularly its decision to keep certain reports on the project’s siting out of the public’s reach.

Scout Energy has discounted all of the points raised by opponents, either outright or by agreeing to take measures to mitigate potential damage.

It took particular umbrage to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s recommendations that the project be scaled back to protect the hawks.

Nonetheless, the council did recommend the project be approved with restrictions to mitigate many of the concerns. Scout said that the restrictions would “gut” the project, reducing its generating capacity by more than half.

Scout warned the restrictions would kill Inslee’s legacy as a climate change champion.

Inslee has directed the council to come up with a new recommendation within 90 days that narrows the restrictions to allow the wind and solar project to achieve its full or nearly full capacity.

“I strongly encourage the council to return to me their approval of this project application that appropriately prioritizes the state’s pressing clean energy needs,” Inslee wrote.

He has said the state needs to permit more green energy projects and can’t be deterred by local opposition.

Nothing, especially Washingtonians, can get in the way.