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Idaho House adopts measures urging federal review, opposes Lava Ridge wind project on BLM land
Summary
The Idaho House passed a joint memorial and a concurrent resolution on Feb. 20 expressing opposition to the Lava Ridge wind energy project on federal Bureau of Land Management lands, citing local impacts on roads, wells and aquifers and concerns that generated power would flow out of state.
The Idaho House passed House Joint Memorial 5 by voice vote and House Concurrent Resolution 8 by roll call on Feb. 20, formally asking federal officials and Congress to reconsider the Lava Ridge wind-energy project proposed on Bureau of Land Management lands in the Magic Valley.
Supporters said the downsized project still would cover a large area, require extensive road construction, and could threaten local water resources and community character. "We don't want any of the turbines in our area," Representative John Madelford said during debate, quoting Senator Jim Risch's phrase, "no means no." The House Joint Memorial was approved by voice vote; the subsequent concurrent resolution passed on a roll call (68 ayes, 2 absent/excused).
The measure before the House frames the action as a request to federal decision-makers rather than a binding state prohibition: the joint memorial is a formal letter to the president and Congress urging further review and opposition, and the concurrent resolution is a legislative statement of the House's position. The sponsors noted a prior, unanimously approved House Concurrent Resolution 4 opposing the project on federal land and said federal actions since then have produced a revised proposal that reduced the number of turbines from about 400 to about 231 and lowered planned maximum tower heights (references in debate to 740-foot to 660-foot limits were discussed).
Speakers said the project would export most generated power out of state, pointing to California Independent System Operator materials that discuss transmission interties to California and the Southwest. Supporters also described concerns about blasting and road construction in a geologically young area that, they said, could disrupt domestic wells and the aquifer; one legislator said there is no explicit mitigation in the proposal guaranteeing repairs to private water supplies if they are damaged.
Sponsors referenced recent federal action: an executive order directing a review of the project and a temporary 90-day pause, with about 30 days of that pause elapsed at the time of the House debate. The House also noted the governor’s executive actions and the attorney general’s involvement in seeking repeal or further federal review.
Debate on the measures included members from districts adjacent to the project area; several members said they were joining in solidarity with Magic Valley communities and county commissioners who oppose development on the BLM parcels. After limited further debate, members approved the joint memorial by voice vote and the concurrent resolution by roll call.
The House referred the joint memorial to the Senate after approving its title. The concurrent resolution was sent to the Senate following the roll-call approval.
Background: Lava Ridge is a proposed wind-energy development planned for federal (BLM) lands in southern Idaho’s Magic Valley region. The House’s actions are nonbinding statements to federal authorities and Congress; they do not alter federal land management approvals.
Votes at a glance: House Joint Memorial 5 — voice vote, passed. House Concurrent Resolution 8 — roll call, 68 ayes, 2 absent/excused; passed.
Next steps: Both measures were transmitted to the Idaho Senate for their consideration and any companion or related actions at that chamber.
