The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking comments on a proposal to build one of the state’s largest wind projects located primarily on public lands outside Twin Falls, ID.
The proposed Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project by Magic Valley Energy, a subsidiary of LS Power—a developer of cleaner energy infrastructure—calls for up to 400 wind turbines with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts. The project will also include a 500-kilovolt transmission line that would interconnect with Idaho Power Company’s existing Midpoint Substation. It will also include substations, operation and maintenance facilities and a battery storage facility sited in several corridors, each about half a mile wide.
Wind turbines would range from 260-460 feet in height and the blades would range from 130-280 feet from the hub. When a blade is in line with the turbine tower, it will reach a maximum height between 390-740 feet.
The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) by BLM is considering five alternatives:
• Alternative A: No action, in which BLM would not authorize the project.
• Alternative B: Approve the project to span 197,474 acres, including 84,387 acres of corridors, and a maximum of 400 wind turbines.
• Alternative C: Reduce the use of northern corridors, with a project area of 146,389 acres (64,387 acres of corridors) and a maximum of 378 wind turbines.
• Alternative D: Allow a centralized area with a maximum of 280 wind turbines and a project area of 110,315 acres, including 47,843 acres in corridors.
• Alternative E: Reduce corridors in the south, with a maximum of 269 wind turbines and a project area of 122,444 acres, including 49,833 acres in corridors.
The BLM said in the executive summary of the DEIS it has identified Alternatives C and E as the agency’s preferred alternatives.
Under Alternative C, BLM said it would minimize impacts on Wilson Butte Cave—an archeological site listed on the National Register of Historic Places with connections to the Fremont People and Shoshone Tribe—and the Minidoka National Historic Site (NHS)—a former Japanese internment camp during WWII. Alternative C would also encourage development in areas already impacted by energy infrastructure. Corridors would not be located north of Idaho Highway 24 to reduce the extent of wildlife habitat fragmentation.
Alternative E would build off Alternative C but would be located further away from Minidoka NHS. Alternative E would eliminate the same siting corridors eliminated under Alternative C and include siting corridors west of Crestview Road and south of the existing West-Wide Energy Corridor.
Impacts on grazing
Grazing would also be affected, as there are nine grazing allotments encompassing 435,794 acres with 59,928 animal unit months intersected by the siting corridors.
“Reduced income, profitability and economic stability for grazing permittees in nine grazing allotments due to temporary and long-term animal unit month reductions could affect the broader livestock grazing community,” the DEIS said.
Under Alternative C, three fewer allotments would be affected and would be reduced by 26% post-project; five fewer allotments would be affected under Alternative E and impacts would be lessened by 42%.
According to local news outlet KTVB, Synergy Resource Solutions rangeland consultant Jack Alexander said at a Magic Valley Energy call that projects such as wind farms “require the open spaces provided by working ranches.”
“Wind power has been successfully incorporated into ranching operations in other locations across the West,” Alexander said.”Wind turbines mix successfully with grazing operations. The wind infrastructure is relatively easy to work around. The turbines have a small footprint, and livestock can graze right up next to them.”
John Arkoosh, whose family operates a ranch outside Shoshone, ID, submitted an editorial to Protect the Harvest, stating farmers and ranchers in the area have been stewards of the land for over 100 years. Arkoosh noted that the Star Lake Grazing Association had developed water with 100 miles of pipelines and 45 water troughs, and those will be affected by the construction of the project.
“The list of losers is long,” Arkoosh wrote. “The point is these public lands are meant to be multiple use and although LS Power claims the multiple-use opportunities will still be available, no one knows to what extent or if it all.”
Cameron Mulrony, executive vice president of Idaho Cattle Association (ICA), told WLJ while they do not have an official position on the project, the association will continue to support local permittees and work to ensure there is no harm to the historical use of the land and the federal agencies uphold their standards and procedures.
“The ICA supports the local producers in each project including the Lava Ridge project and will continue to work with our membership to ensure they are able to continue the successes of their operations without interruption as the agencies explore these options for energy development in our state of Idaho,” Mulrony said.
According to the Magic Valley Energy website, the company has also filed an application with BLM for the Salmon Falls Project, an 800-megawatt, 300-turbine project located southwest of Twin Falls.
Other objections
In a letter, Gov. Brad Little (R), Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke (R), Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID-02), Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) expressed concern about the size and scope of the project and the use of public lands.
“The Lava Ridge Wind Project, in terms of its size and scope, is the first of its kind on federally managed land in Idaho, yet the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process has not adequately accounted for this fact,” the letter stated.
“Our offices were informed that public outreach efforts have been insufficient to adequately engage Idaho citizens in the process. 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.”
Comments will be accepted until March 21. Documents and comment information can be found at eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2013782/570. Comments may also be submitted by email to BLM_ID_LavaRidge@blm.gov. Open houses were set to be held on Feb. 22 in Shoshone, ID; Feb. 23 in Twin Falls, ID; and Feb. 24 via Zoom at bit.ly/LavaRidgePublicMtg. — Charles Wallace, WLJ editor
