Congress inserts conditions for Idaho wind farm in federal spending bill

Congress passed a federal spending package late Friday evening that will fund several key agencies through September, preventing a government shutdown. Hidden in one of the bills is a measure that specifically relates to a proposed wind farm in Idaho.

The proposed Interior Department budget includes a section on the Lava Ridge Wind project planned on public lands in Magic Valley.

It says no funds in the package can be used to “grant, issue or renew a right of way” for Lava Ridge until the Bureau of Land Management, in consultation with local officials, has analyzed alternative turbine designs to reduce wildlife, cultural impacts resources and more. Additionally, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland would be required to report to Congress on the progress of these consultations.

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, said in a news release that this measure in the federal budget “blocks the out-of-control Lava Ridge Wind Project until the Secretary of the Interior consults with local elected officials.” and interest groups and reports to Congress.”

Analysis of alternative turbine designs and community engagement are key components of the Lava Ridge review process that the Bureau of Land Management has been conducting for three years under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The agency formed a local subcommittee to discuss the project, including county commissioners, which held public forums and collected more than 11,000 public comments on the draft environmental impact statement report.

However, a spokesperson for Simpson said that in addition to the NEPA process, the budget proposal introduces a “new, separate requirement” for the BLM in its analysis of Lava Ridge.

There was widespread opposition to the wind project from various groups, including local residents, ranchers, members of the Japanese American community and Idaho politicians.

In an emailed statement, LS Power, the company that proposed Lava Ridge, said public engagement was an integral part of the BLM’s assessment of the project.

“This proposed legislation underscores the importance of local stakeholder perspectives in BLM’s land use decisions,” said Luke Papez, senior director of project development at LS Power, before Congress passed the bill.

The BLM’s D.C. office declined to comment on this section of the budget proposal and its impact on the agency’s review of Lava Ridge.

A final environmental impact report on the wind project was expected last month but was delayed until the spring.