Natural gas power plants on zone hearing agenda

Changes to Whitman County zoning laws that would allow development of natural gas power plants will be the topic of a public hearing before county commissioners Sept. 10.

Planner Alan Thomson said he has spoken with energy production companies about the possibility of building gas power plants in Whitman County to augment electricity produced by the Palouse Wind farm currently under construction on Naff Ridge between Oakesdale and Rosalia.

“There are no plans, as of yet,” said Thomson. “This is just something that is not expressly allowed in our current code or (comprehensive) plan.”

Several r...