OLYMPIA – Unanimous votes in both the Senate and House of Representatives to pass Senate Joint Memorial 8001 signal bipartisan support for the development of a Wind Farm at Radar Ridge near Naselle.

“We know that ending our dependence on foreign oil is only going to happen if we develop energy at home,” said Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, who sponsored the legislation. “Getting the project at Radar Ridge up and running will be a step in the right direction.”

SJM 8001 petitions President Obama and members of Congress to ensure that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service work cooperatively with the state's regulatory agencies and energy producers in regulating the federal endangered species act.

“Energy Northwest appreciates the sponsorship by Senator Hatfield for this Senate Joint Memorial and the support of the legislators in Olympia for our energy development projects in Washington,” Energy Northwest spokesman Rochelle Olson said. “This effort for Radar Ridge is indicative of the kind of support that public power needs from our legislative leaders in order to continue providing environmentally responsible power for Northwest ratepayers.”

“If we keep doing all of our wind generation on the east side of the mountains, we have to have transmission lines to the west side where most of the people live in this state,” Hatfield said. “The need to build those lines and plow through National Forests in the Cascades would do more in environmental damage than putting up wind mills on the west coast.”

Following its unanimous passage from the legislature, SJM 8001 will be sent to Washington’s members of Congress, as well as to President Obama and Vice President Biden, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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For more information: Chase Gallagher, 360-786-7326

For interviews: Sen. Brian Hatfield, 360-786-7636