The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council may recommend Washington Gov. Jay Inslee approve the Horse Heaven wind and solar installation, but with restrictions the developer previously said would gut the project.

EFSEC staff April 1 released a proposed report to Inslee based on discussions the council’s seven voting members have had about Scout Clean Energy’s application to put solar panels and wind turbines on rolling hills near the Tri-Cities in southeast Washington.

The project would advance the state’s climate goals, but it should be downsized to reduce, though not eliminate, damage to views, wildlife and tribal culture, according to the draft report.

Proposed building restrictions would keep wildlife corridors clear and some habitat untouched, and would prohibit turbines within 2 miles of nests currently or formerly occupied by ferruginous hawks.

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While Scout has proposed erecting up to 231 turbines, 116 would fall within the 2-mile buffer, according to EFSEC staff.

Inslee, who places a high priority on renewable energy projects, could accept or reject the recommendation, or direct EFSEC to reconsider the restrictions. EFSEC may vote on the recommendation to Inslee on April 17.

Scout CEO Michael Rucker denounced the 2-mile buffer in a letter to EFSEC in January, saying it would discourage other energy companies from coming to Washington. A Scout spokesman said Tuesday the company was reviewing the draft report and will submit more comments to EFSEC.

Scout, owned by Toronto-based Brookfield Renewable Partners, presented plans in 2021 to string towering wind turbines over 25 miles along the Columbia River. Solar panels would cover more than 5,000 acres, mostly on land leased from wheat farmers.

The project was formally opposed at hearings last summer by Benton County, the Yakama Nation and Tri-City CARES, a citizens group concerned about how the turbines would change the landscape.

The buffer to protect hawks also would reduce harm to tribal resources and views, according to the draft recommendation.

“Is it enough? I don’t know,” Tri-City CARES attorney Richard Aramburu said. “It’s still a lot of visual impact.”

Efforts to obtain comment from the Yakama Nation were unsuccessful. The tribe has previously said the project will harm cultural resources and sacred sites. Archeological reports and testimony from tribal elders have not been made public.

As proposed by Scout, the wind turbines would have had a maximum capacity of 1,150 megawatts. Changes contemplated by EFSEC would reduce the capacity to 236 megawatts, according to Rucker’s letter.

The capacity of the solar portion of the project would be reduced to 500 megawatts from 800 megawatts, he stated.

Wind and solar projects produce a fraction of their maximum capacity because they are weather dependent.

EFSEC’s voting members represent six state agencies and, for this case, Benton County.

EFSEC will take public comments on the draft recommendation until April 10. Comments can be submitted online or mailed to P.O. Box 43172, Lacey, WA 98503-3172.