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The climate reporting outlet Heatmap News has put out a list of the 10 most at-risk major clean energy projects across the country. The Lava Ridge wind project, which would be near Twin Falls, Idaho, was at the top of the list. Part of why it earned the top spot in their view is because of concerns surrounding impacts to the Minidoka National Historic Site, where 13,000 Japanese-Americans were incarcerated during World War II.
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The Lava Ridge Wind Project, a proposed large-scale wind farm in southern Idaho, faces yet another challenge as the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation withdraws from the process.
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Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) is continuing to push back against a proposed wind farm northeast of Twin Falls.
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The agency’s preferred alternative includes a smaller project footprint, fewer turbines and more height restrictions, which it says respond to the many concerns raised. However, the announcement has been criticized by a number of groups and officials.
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The wind farm, located mostly on public lands in Jerome, Lincoln and Minidoka counties, could include up to 400 wind turbines, providing more than 1,000 megawatts of power. It's faced fierce opposition in Idaho.
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Rep. Mike Simpson said the measure blocks the Lava Ridge Wind Project until the Secretary of the Interior takes certain steps.
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The wind farm has generated significant opposition. One objection has been that the power produced on public lands in Idaho would likely be sent out of state.
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The Bureau of Land Management could release a final report on the Lava Ridge Wind Project in February.
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A new bill introduced by Idaho’s Republican congressional delegation would give state legislatures veto power over solar and wind energy projects proposed on federal public lands.
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The Bureau of Land Management has received more than 7,500 comments so far on what would be Idaho's largest wind farm if it's approved as soon as this fall.