Lava Ridge Wind Farm
Photo credit: Drew Nash
Magic Valley Energy (MVE) is seeking authorization to use BLM-managed public lands in southern Idaho to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission the Lava Ridge Wind Project. If implemented, it would be one of the largest wind farms on public land in the nation, and would consist of 400 turbines up to 740 feet in height. It would include the associated infrastructure, like new roads, powerlines, substations, maintenance facilities and battery storage facilities. MVE is seeking the BLM’s permission to build the project in Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka counties on approximately 197,474 acres of federal, state and private land.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is prepared for major federal actions that may have a significant effect on the environment. The purpose of an EIS is to identify potential issues related to the project, analyze the project impacts, disclose them to the public, and use the information developed to make informed decisions. The EIS is a public document, and the public is encouraged to provide input throughout the development of the EIS.
The BLM has closed the 90-day comment period for the Lava Ridge Wind Farm project’s draft EIS, and will review 11,000 comments before releasing a final statement early this summer. After they have compiled and responded to public comments, the BLM will prepare a Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision.
Wind energy can be a great alternative to nonrenewable resources and generating it creates far lower emissions than burning fossil fuels. Wind turbines harness the kinetic energy of moving air by using large wind turbines located on land. Wind farms can contribute to the local and regional economy due to project-related spending during both construction and operation, and can benefit community services from increased tax revenues.
Although wind energy can be a great alternative to fossil fuels, the proposed 76,000-acre wind farm will surround Minidoka National Historic Site. 400 wind turbines, each of them up to 740 feet tall, would be placed alongside the former WWII incarceration site.
The Minidoka National Historic Site commemorates the more than 13,000 Japanese Americans who were imprisoned at the Minidoka War Relocation Center during the Second World War. The internment camp site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and a national monument was established at the site in 2001.
If implemented, the Native American Tribes and Japanese American communities would be subject to disproportionate high and adverse effects from changes to the setting, feeling, and visitor experience at the Minidoka National Historic Site. The wind turbines will compromise the viewscape and impact the experience of those visiting the historical site.
Some special status species could experience population decline if the project is implemented, including the ferruginous hawk, long-billed curlew, short-eared owl, and burrowing owl. Even with minimization measures, the project could substantially fragment remaining wildlife habitat and reduce habitat connectivity, and could greatly impair the ability of wildlife to move through the analysis area.
Several groups have spoken out against the project due to historical and environmental concerns including Idaho officials such as Governor Little, county commissioners from seven counties, Idaho’s Attorney General, Idaho’s House of Representatives, Friends of Minidoka, and local opposition groups. Governor Little, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, U.S. Senator Jim Risch and Congressman Mike Simpson wrote, “Affected farmers, ranchers, tribes, the Japanese American community and sportsmen have voiced legitimate objections.”
Idaho Business for the Outdoors (IBO) represents a collective, nonpartisan business voice in support of the advantage Idaho's outdoors and public lands afford to our state and economy. IBO recognizes that wind energy has many environmental and economic benefits, but the historic and cultural resources, the impact on recreation, grazing and wildlife habitats cannot be ignored. While it has been discussed that the implementation of this project can double the tax base for these counties and potentially increase recreation, we have to consider the harm it will cause from the socioeconomic standpoint of the Japanese Americans and the Minidoka National Historic Site, the economic impact on other industries in the area such as grazing and agriculture, and the issues it will result in from breaking up important wildlife habitat.
If you are interested in reading more we encourage you to to see the additional resources and articles below.
Additional Resources:
Lava Ridge Wind Farm Project Environmental Impact Statement
Lava Ridge Wind Farm Project Details
Clean energy, at what cost? BLM to decide what’s next for Idaho Lava Ridge Wind Project
House Unanimously Opposes Lava Ridge Wind Project