House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee advances measures opposing Lava Ridge wind project

The House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee voted to send Joint Memorial 5 and House Concurrent Resolution 8 to the Idaho House floor with "do pass" recommendations, advancing measures that direct federal and state leaders to oppose the Bureau of Land Management-approved Lava Ridge wind project.

Representative Lance Clow, District 25 of Twin Falls, who sponsored the measures, told the committee the Lava Ridge proposal would place 231 wind turbines on public lands near the Magic Valley and said the project raises short-term construction, infrastructure and environmental risks for local communities.

"This is a wind turbine project in the Magic Valley that, we've been the citizens of Twin Falls and Magic Valley have been objecting to for quite a few years," Clow said. He told the committee the Bureau of Land Management approved a reduced plan that lowered turbine height from about 740 feet to about 660 feet but said construction would still produce "tremendous impacts" on local labor markets, roads and housing. Clow also warned of possible damage to the groundwater that supplies the region: "Underneath those lava flows is the Lake Erie size aquifer that feeds the Magic Valley. And if they damage the aquifer with the blasting of putting in the foundations for each of these towers, there's there's no real answer to what will happen."

Clow and other speakers argued that much of the electricity generated by the project would be transmitted out of state. "They're planning to put a big long, power line up to the Magic Valley to take the power south, so they get the benefits of it. They don't have to deal with the adverse impacts," he said. Clow said the new measures reconfirm objections the Legislature previously expressed in House Concurrent Resolution 4 and ask the state's federal delegation and the president to take action, including appeals.

A Lincoln County farmer who testified in person, Darren Taber, described direct local impacts he said would follow construction. "I farm in Lincoln County about 14 miles from where the proposal for these wind towers was put," Taber said. He said the project's original footprint would have removed "permanently 3,500 acres out of production between the footprints of the original towers and the roads they were going to have to construct," and expressed concerns about damage to local roads, crop-dusting operations, livestock grazing and wildlife migration.

Committee procedure moved both measures forward by voice vote. Representative Redmond moved to send HJM 5 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation; the committee chair called for the ayes and, with no opposition recorded, the motion passed. Representative Redmond then moved to send HCR 8 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation; again the committee recorded no opposition and the motion passed.

The measures differ in addressees and form: Clow described the joint memorial (HJM 5) as a document directed to Congress and the president and the concurrent resolution (HCR 8) as restating the Legislature's objections and urging an appeal. Clow also referenced a 90-day presidential review and an executive order from Governor Brad Little urging state agencies to support opposition, which framed the sponsors' request for additional state and federal intervention.

Both measures will next proceed to the full House for consideration. The committee chair closed the hearing and said the committee will meet next Tuesday to vote on administrative rules; the chair noted no public testimony will be taken at that meeting.