Green energy might not be a new thing, but it can’t be denied that there has been a sudden push over the latest administration’s term to totally overhaul energy production.  Not long after Biden was signed into office, an executive order was pushed through that set lofty goals of increasing production of renewable energy on federal lands to a minimum of 25 gigawatts of electricity from wind, solar, and geothermal energy projects by 2025

As a result of that goal the Lava Ridge wind farm was proposed.  The project included  400 turbines up to 740 feet in height sitting on 197,000 acres of land across the Idaho counties of Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka, northeast of Twin Falls.  The site was selected for its optimal wind power, the power markets accessible by current and future power lines, and the lack of land use constraints.

Aside from the turbines themselves, the wind farm will also include up to seven new substations, approximately 198 miles of 34.5 kilovolt (kV) collector lines, 34 miles of 230 kV transmission lines, 18 miles of 500 kV transmission lines, 381 miles of access roads, 47 miles of temporary crane walk paths, a battery energy storage system, three operations and maintenance facilities, five permanent met towers, and construction-related staging yards.

 The Lava Ridge project proposal was submitted in August 2022 with an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) conducted in 2023.  As the proposal gained headway, it also gained significant resistance and opposition.

Protests against the wind farm come from local Idahoans, hunters and recreationalists, farmers and ranchers, WWII special interests groups and even Idaho’s governing leaders.  

Concerns raised include the loss of use of the lands for multiple uses, for which public lands are intended for.  As the turbines, access roads, substations, power lines, storage systems, maintenance facilities and the like are being constructed, access to the land will be limited, if granted at all.  Even once the wind farm became operational, there would still be significantly less grazing acreage and access.  Hunters and even Native American residents  point out that the change of use of the land would largely impact the wildlife of the area, likely ruining its use for hunting and other recreational uses.

Local residents living near the proposed site have raised their own concerns about the impact of constructing the site.  Their worries vary from the necessary blasting for tower bases and roadways to the water impact it will have in the current water use climate.  In addition, the locals are frustrated that while they have to live with the daily impact of the wind farm, the energy produced will be used out of state in California and Nevada.  

Friends of Minidoka, a nonprofit organization based in Jerome, strongly opposes the wind farm as the plans would place turbines just two miles from Minidoka Historic Site.  The Minidoka Historic Site, a former concentration camp for Japanese Americans during WWII, was created to provide education of the forced removal and incarceration experience of Japanese Americans.   

Hearing the concerns of the people, and having concerns of their own, Idaho’s government officials joined the conversation.  In a joint letter, Governor Brad Little, Lt. Governor Scott Bedke, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, U.S. Senator Jim Risch and Congressman Mike Simpson spoke out against the project.   They said, “Affected farmers, ranchers, tribes, the Japanese American community and sportsmen have voiced legitimate objections.  As it stands today, the local community predominantly has not shown support for this development.”

The letter also voiced the conflicts with “deep-rooted” Idaho values for land conservation and land use opportunities for recreation, grazing and sporting activities.  Additionally they pointed out concerns for the habitat and aerial fire suppression efforts, considering the height of the turbines in an area prone to wildfire. 

A final EIS was conducted with alternative proposals and recommendations, which was published June 6, 2024.  The new proposed plan would reduce the acreage to 104,000 acres of land, consisting of 241 turbines with a maximum height of 660 feet with a reduced electrical output by 38-42%. 

The size reduction could be considered a compromise, but Idahos were determined to prevent the project completely.  To that end, Congressman Simpson used his position as the Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee to put language in the Interior Appropriations Bill (FY25 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act) that would specifically block funding to be used for the Lava Ridge Wind Project.  

With a pass of 29 to 25 votes in favor, the bill will next go to the full floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.  Making it out of committee is a monumental step for the bill and Idahoans, the bill must still pass in the House as well as in the Senate before President Biden will sign it into law.  However, the progress made is surely worth celebrating for Idahoans that have been working tirelessly to keep Idaho the way they know and love it.