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Released August 08, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--In step with an executive order issued on the first day of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term, the Department of the Interior (DoI) has rescinded its Biden-era approval of the Lava Ridge Windfarm project in southern Idaho, which was permitted for 241 turbines.
The Lava Ridge Windfarm was controversial with area residents. Developer Magic Valley Energy, an affiliate of LS Power (New York, New York), was in the planning process for the windfarm for about five years.
The facility originally was proposed to have about 400 turbines to generate 1,000 megawatts (MW) of power but was scaled back by the DoI's Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which oversees development on public lands. However, residents also expressed concerns about the height of the turbines and their proximity to the historic Minidoka National Historic Site, where Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II.
The Biden-era BLM's final Record of Decision (ROD) regarding the project, issued in December 2024, seemingly took these concerns into account, reducing the number of turbines by about 40% to 241, which would probably have reduced the facility's generating capacity. In addition, plans called for the turbines nearest the Minidoka site to be situated nine miles away from the location.
In the December 2024 press release regarding its approval of the project, the BLM stated: "The project footprint reduces the area disturbed from the initial proposal by half, decreases the number of turbines from 400 to 241 (231 on BLM-managed lands and 10 on lands managed by the State of Idaho) and imposes a maximum height limit of 660 feet for turbines, consistent with extensive public and community feedback regarding the protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources."
However, a new administration arrived, and this approval is now described as both "thoughtless" and "reckless" by the Interior Department. Trump left no doubt about his opposition toward the project, on the first day of his second term issuing a memorandum specifically calling out the Lava Ridge development. The order stated that the decision, because "as approved by the Department of the Interior, is allegedly contrary to the public interest and suffers from legal deficiencies, the Secretary of the Interior shall, as appropriate, place a temporary moratorium on all activities and rights of Magic Valley Energy, LLC, or any other party under the ROD, including, but not limited to, any rights-of-way or rights of development or operation of any projects contemplated in the ROD."
After the July 4 signing of the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" sped up the expiry of tax credits for wind and solar power projects, Trump took further aim at renewables less than two weeks later when another order subjected seemingly every nuance of wind and solar projects on federal lands to be personally approved by Interior Secretary Doug Bergum.
That scrutiny for the Lava Ridge development was manifested earlier this week with the DoI's rescission of the approval. Citing the originally proposed 1,000-MW generation capacity, the opening paragraph of the department's announcement of its decision is relatively scathing and worth quoting in full: "Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is restoring common sense to American energy policy by reversing the Biden administration's misguided, last-minute push to approve the Lava Ridge Wind Project, an enormous and unpopular 1,000-megawatt wind facility in southern Idaho, during the final days of the former president's term. Under President Donald J. Trump, the Department of the Interior will no longer provide preferential treatment towards unreliable, intermittent power sources that harm rural communities, livelihoods and the land, such as the Lava Ridge Wind Project and the radical Green New Scam agenda that burdens our nation and public lands."
While the recission is being panned by renewable energy advocates throughout the U.S., the department's decision seems to have the support of Idaho's leadership. Shortly after Trump's first-day calling out of the project, Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) issued his own executive order, titled "Gone with the Lava Ridge Wind Project Act," that encouraged state agencies to fully support and aid Trump's call for the project's review, a move supported by the state legislature, which said most Idaho residents were opposed to the project. According to the DoI's recent release regarding its revocation of the permitting, during the review process, "multiple state agencies provided the Bureau of Land Management with letters describing a significant lack of consultation throughout the original review process for the project. In addition, in February, the Idaho House of Representatives unanimously voted to oppose Lava Ridge."
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can learn more by viewing the project report.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
The Lava Ridge Windfarm was controversial with area residents. Developer Magic Valley Energy, an affiliate of LS Power (New York, New York), was in the planning process for the windfarm for about five years.
The facility originally was proposed to have about 400 turbines to generate 1,000 megawatts (MW) of power but was scaled back by the DoI's Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which oversees development on public lands. However, residents also expressed concerns about the height of the turbines and their proximity to the historic Minidoka National Historic Site, where Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II.
The Biden-era BLM's final Record of Decision (ROD) regarding the project, issued in December 2024, seemingly took these concerns into account, reducing the number of turbines by about 40% to 241, which would probably have reduced the facility's generating capacity. In addition, plans called for the turbines nearest the Minidoka site to be situated nine miles away from the location.
In the December 2024 press release regarding its approval of the project, the BLM stated: "The project footprint reduces the area disturbed from the initial proposal by half, decreases the number of turbines from 400 to 241 (231 on BLM-managed lands and 10 on lands managed by the State of Idaho) and imposes a maximum height limit of 660 feet for turbines, consistent with extensive public and community feedback regarding the protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources."
However, a new administration arrived, and this approval is now described as both "thoughtless" and "reckless" by the Interior Department. Trump left no doubt about his opposition toward the project, on the first day of his second term issuing a memorandum specifically calling out the Lava Ridge development. The order stated that the decision, because "as approved by the Department of the Interior, is allegedly contrary to the public interest and suffers from legal deficiencies, the Secretary of the Interior shall, as appropriate, place a temporary moratorium on all activities and rights of Magic Valley Energy, LLC, or any other party under the ROD, including, but not limited to, any rights-of-way or rights of development or operation of any projects contemplated in the ROD."
After the July 4 signing of the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" sped up the expiry of tax credits for wind and solar power projects, Trump took further aim at renewables less than two weeks later when another order subjected seemingly every nuance of wind and solar projects on federal lands to be personally approved by Interior Secretary Doug Bergum.
That scrutiny for the Lava Ridge development was manifested earlier this week with the DoI's rescission of the approval. Citing the originally proposed 1,000-MW generation capacity, the opening paragraph of the department's announcement of its decision is relatively scathing and worth quoting in full: "Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is restoring common sense to American energy policy by reversing the Biden administration's misguided, last-minute push to approve the Lava Ridge Wind Project, an enormous and unpopular 1,000-megawatt wind facility in southern Idaho, during the final days of the former president's term. Under President Donald J. Trump, the Department of the Interior will no longer provide preferential treatment towards unreliable, intermittent power sources that harm rural communities, livelihoods and the land, such as the Lava Ridge Wind Project and the radical Green New Scam agenda that burdens our nation and public lands."
While the recission is being panned by renewable energy advocates throughout the U.S., the department's decision seems to have the support of Idaho's leadership. Shortly after Trump's first-day calling out of the project, Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) issued his own executive order, titled "Gone with the Lava Ridge Wind Project Act," that encouraged state agencies to fully support and aid Trump's call for the project's review, a move supported by the state legislature, which said most Idaho residents were opposed to the project. According to the DoI's recent release regarding its revocation of the permitting, during the review process, "multiple state agencies provided the Bureau of Land Management with letters describing a significant lack of consultation throughout the original review process for the project. In addition, in February, the Idaho House of Representatives unanimously voted to oppose Lava Ridge."
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can learn more by viewing the project report.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
