Environmentalists Defeat Wind Energy Project in Southeast Oregon

Plans for a wind energy facility have been vacated after environmentalists successfully challenged the environmental review for the project.

1 minute read

April 21, 2017, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Harney County

The view from Steens Mountain. | Hugh K Telleria / Shutterstock

The Associated Press reports on a decision from the U.S. District Court in Portland that kills a proposed wind energy project that would have been located on about 10,500 acres in Harney County near Steens Mountain. Columbia Energy Partners would have built 40 to 69 wind turbines and a 230-kilovolt transmission line.

Though the project gained approvals from the Bureau of Land Management and Harney County, litigation brought by environmental groups challenged the environmental review of the project, saying it did not properly account for the habitat of declining sage grouse population.

Thursday, April 20, 2017 in AP via The Oregonian

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of man in manually operated wheelchair waiting at urban crosswalk.

Making Mobility More Inclusive

A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

30 minutes ago - Greater Good Magazine

US and Texas flags flying in front of Texas state capitol dome in Austin, Texas.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness

A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

1 hour ago - The Texas Tribune

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

2 hours ago - Inside Climate News