{"id":1852106,"date":"2023-02-18T09:20:45","date_gmt":"2023-02-18T14:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1852106"},"modified":"2023-02-18T09:22:13","modified_gmt":"2023-02-18T14:22:13","slug":"gabriella-hoffman-idaho-lawmakers-strongly-oppose-lava-ridge-wind-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gabriella-hoffman-idaho-lawmakers-strongly-oppose-lava-ridge-wind-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Gabriella Hoffman: Idaho Lawmakers Strongly Oppose Lava Ridge Wind Project"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgabriella-hoffman-idaho-lawmakers-strongly-oppose-lava-ridge-wind-project%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1852106&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47-->\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/43bcc50b-3242-41ed-96b5-3e7fed9f2fff@news.ap_.org_.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\"   style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"isPasted\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Following\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6318257004112\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">national coverage<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0of a\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NSXpSllJ2DQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">proposed<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0onshore wind project in Idaho&#8217;s Magic Valley\u2014including\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/townhall.com\/columnists\/gabriellahoffman\/2023\/01\/04\/bidens-onshore-wind-goals-will-devastate-idahos-magic-valley-n2617856\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">here<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0at Townhall\u2013Idaho lawmakers are publicly opposing the Lava Ridge Wind Project.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Governor Brad Little, Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke, Congressman Mike Simpson, and Senators Crapo and Risch \u2013-all Republicans\u2013<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/gov.idaho.gov\/pressrelease\/little-bedke-crapo-risch-simpson-raise-concerns-about-lava-ridge-wind-farm-proposal-on-federal-land\/?fbclid=IwAR01wGmKq1x3e8dedbJ3f5qj6FQsmOUb_sfVFEPIxVWFFA5sGAHvglX-8gc&#038;mibextid=Zxz2cZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">issued<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0a scathing statement opposing the planned project in Southern Idaho.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8220;Idahoans cherish the concept of multiple and mixed uses on their public lands. This requires conservation, predictability of use, and, most importantly, support from the local communities. These deep-rooted values are compromised by a piecemeal approach to large-scale generation projects on public lands. Dedicating hundreds of square miles of public lands to a specific use will have a long-term effect on recreation, grazing, sporting uses, and the land in general,&#8221; the press release\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/gov.idaho.gov\/pressrelease\/little-bedke-crapo-risch-simpson-raise-concerns-about-lava-ridge-wind-farm-proposal-on-federal-land\/?fbclid=IwAR01wGmKq1x3e8dedbJ3f5qj6FQsmOUb_sfVFEPIxVWFFA5sGAHvglX-8gc&#038;mibextid=Zxz2cZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">said<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Idaho delegation\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/gov.idaho.gov\/pressrelease\/little-bedke-crapo-risch-simpson-raise-concerns-about-lava-ridge-wind-farm-proposal-on-federal-land\/?fbclid=IwAR01wGmKq1x3e8dedbJ3f5qj6FQsmOUb_sfVFEPIxVWFFA5sGAHvglX-8gc&#038;mibextid=Zxz2cZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">added<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, &#8220;Affected farmers, ranchers, tribes, the Japanese American community, and sportsmen have voiced legitimate objections. Yet, today, the local community predominantly has not shown support for this development.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Following this announcement, the Idaho House of Representatives Resources and Conservation Committee\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/legislature.idaho.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sessioninfo\/2023\/legislation\/HCR004.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">introduced<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0House Concurrent Resolution No. 4, encouraging Governor Little and Attorney General Ra\u00fal Labrador to pursue legal action to persuade the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kmvt.com\/2023\/02\/13\/lava-ridge-project-school-safety-discussed-house-committees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">opt for<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0a &#8220;no build option&#8221; on Lava Ridge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The resolution\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/legislature.idaho.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sessioninfo\/2023\/legislation\/HCR004.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">read<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in part like this: &#8220;WHEREAS, Idaho is required by law to protect all wildlife. This project area will severely impact the migration and habitat of local wildlife. WHEREAS, these lands have been utilized by agriculture, public recreation, hunting, and fishing by the citizens of Idaho, specifically the Magic Valley.&#8221; \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8220;THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session of the Sixty-seventh Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, that Idaho Attorney General Ra\u00fal Labrador and Governor Brad Little review the Lava Ridge Project to assure that the interests of Idaho are foremost in the final decision&#8221; it\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/legislature.idaho.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sessioninfo\/2023\/legislation\/HCR004.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">concluded<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This is the most significant repudiation of this project by officials to-date. This development comes after the Department of Interior, which oversees BLM,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2023\/01\/20\/2023-00646\/notice-of-availability-of-the-draft-environmental-impact-statement-for-the-proposed-lava-ridge-wind\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">issued<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) soliciting comments for Lava Ridge. The public has until March 21, 2023, to\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blm.gov\/press-release\/blm-seeks-public-input-proposed-south-central-idaho-wind-project\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">submit<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0their comments to the agency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As I wrote\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/townhall.com\/columnists\/gabriellahoffman\/2023\/01\/04\/bidens-onshore-wind-goals-will-devastate-idahos-magic-valley-n2617856\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">here<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0at Townhall, &#8220;The Lava Ridge Wind Project, if approved, would comprise 400 turbines across 73,000 acres of BLM lands spanning Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka counties. Individual turbines could stand as tall as 740 feet.\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.magicvalleyenergy.com\/lava-ridge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Magic Valley Energy<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0&#8211; a New York-based\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lspower.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">LS Power<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0subsidiary\u2013is propping this project up. They claim it&#8217;ll\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boisestatepublicradio.org\/news\/2022-06-16\/western-public-lands-are-key-to-bidens-clean-energy-goals-in-idaho-opposition-is-mounting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">generate<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a01,000 megawatts of power and commence operation as early as 2025.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Adding insult to injury, this wind project will be funded by clean energy tax credits\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lmtribune.com\/opinion\/opinion-green-energy-tax-credits-buy-environmental-degradation\/article_a6997a56-77cd-590c-90aa-0ed2ada74257.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">contained<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act if it passes muster and is approved. Many preservationist environmentalists sure don&#8217;t mind encroaching on the hallowed ground like the Minidoka National Historic Site, killing birds of prey, or destroying wildlife corridors in the name of &#8220;fighting the climate crisis.&#8221; And ironically, locals won&#8217;t ever see the &#8220;supposed&#8221; benefits of Lava Ridge because the electricity generated will be shipped out-of-state to California and Nevada.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Talk about a boondoggle.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Lava Ridge isn\u2019t the only site planned of this scale. Similar clean energy projects are also planned in other communities throughout the U.S.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To achieve its unrealistic net zero goals, the Biden administration targets rural areas in predominantly red states. This includes producing\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blm.gov\/programs\/energy-and-minerals\/renewable-energy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">25 gigawatts<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0of onshore wind by 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/articles\/biden-harris-administration-announces-30-million-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-speed-wind\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">$30<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0million in funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the deceptively-named Inflation Reduction Act will shore up funding for wind projects like Lava Ridge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8220;Wind power is abundant, homegrown, affordable, and already provides enough electricity to power 40 million homes,&#8221; Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/articles\/biden-harris-administration-announces-30-million-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-speed-wind\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">said<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in an October 2022 news release. &#8220;But that is just the start \u2014 wind power is poised for explosive growth. Thanks to President Biden&#8217;s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOE is helping to break down technology barriers to turbo-charge the deployment of this affordable resource all across the country.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Much to the Biden administration&#8217;s chagrin, wind energy\u2013 like solar\u2013is unreliable and not sought after by the masses. This hastiness in developing wind could explain why dead whales have been washed up on East Coast beaches. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Even the Department of Energy, which Secretary Granholm oversees,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/eere\/wind\/advantages-and-challenges-wind-energy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">warned<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0how wind energy, whether onshore or offshore, has many vast shortcomings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For instance, wind can&#8217;t\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/eere\/wind\/advantages-and-challenges-wind-energy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">compete<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0with cheaper, reliable energy sources like oil, coal, or gas. It can&#8217;t even exist in all areas. Wind turbines also create a lot of noise and can be an eyesore on the landscape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Idaho lawmakers are to be commended for seeing past Big Wind\u2019s financial enticements and misleading propaganda. Let&#8217;s hope Idaho&#8217;s Magic Valley is spared from Biden&#8217;s destructive energy agenda.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following\u00a0national coverage\u00a0of a\u00a0proposed\u00a0onshore wind project in Idaho&#8217;s Magic Valley\u2014including\u00a0here\u00a0at Townhall\u2013Idaho lawmakers are publicly opposing the Lava Ridge Wind Project. Governor Brad Little, Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke, Congressman Mike Simpson, and Senators Crapo and Risch \u2013-all Republicans\u2013issued\u00a0a scathing statement opposing the planned project in Southern Idaho.\u00a0 &#8220;Idahoans cherish the concept of multiple and mixed uses on &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1852109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[9891,9890,6318,19010,3673,5570,4146,19011,6784],"class_list":["post-1852106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-gabriella","tag-hoffman","tag-idaho","tag-lava","tag-lawmakers","tag-oppose","tag-project","tag-ridge","tag-wind"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1852106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1852106"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1852106\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1852109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1852106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1852106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1852106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}