Editor’s Note: For press inquiries on this Record of Decision, please reach out to ICL Climate Program Manager, Adrian Gallo at [email protected] or ICL Public Lands & Wildlife Director, John Robison at [email protected]
Today, on Friday, December 6, the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Lava Ridge wind project was signed. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a press release announcing the news as well as the full document. Earlier this summer, ICL did a deep dive into the revised project and looked at all of the potential impacts and benefits Lava Ridge will have. Given the significant changes that the BLM made in response to community engagement (like reducing the general project area, ground disturbance, and access roads all by at least 50%), we have come to support the revised project.
This is big news for Idaho’s clean energy sector, and has many people asking, what happens next? They’re not pouring concrete tomorrow, nor will they be building roads next week. There are still many more steps before physical construction can begin. The BLM still needs some work done, including bonding securitization, local construction permits, and ongoing geotechnical work.
The BLM’s press release also describes ongoing energy development proposals that will be deferred until “the adequacy of the [Lava Ridge] mitigation measures is assessed by the Bureau.” Within the original proposed project area, 212,000 acres will now remain undeveloped as a result of the wildlife/cultural mitigation measures required by Magic Valley Energy. Even if this decision is altered under the upcoming administration, we hope the BLM will still honor the new protections of the 15,000 acres around the Minidoka National Historic Site that would prevent other energy projects from further impacting this location.
Idaho and the entire United States need more renewable energy projects, and we need them fast. We can’t forget that 2023 was the hottest year on record, and 2024 is likely to break the record. Idaho purchases at least 38% of our electricity from out of state because we don’t have enough local energy projects. In order to keep electricity rates affordable, we need to develop more clean energy here at home. We also need to expand our energy investments in a way that earns community support. When it comes to Lava Ridge, there are individuals and organizations that should have been contacted far earlier in the project planning process; by ensuring this step is taken early, projects can better address community concerns from the start. Energy developers must recognize this misstep, and plan better for projects in the future—because the quicker we electrify our lives, the cleaner and healthier our air and water will be for us and our kids.