Lava Ridge Wind is a proposed 1 gigawatt windpower project in southern Idaho under development by Magic Valley Energy, LLC (a subsidiary of LS Power). The 400-turbine project would be located across 76,000 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Idaho Department of Lands in Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka Counties. The project has been under development since 2021. The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is due out in Spring 2024 for public comment, and a record of decision on the project is anticipated in the summer.

Since its announcement, the project has faced significant local opposition, including concerns about loss of grazing land; impacts on water, recreation, and wildlife; and disturbance of the Minidoka National Historic Site, where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II.

A local group of diverse stakeholders called Stop Lava Ridge has organized to inform the public about the project, express their concerns, and halt or direct changes to the project. Proponents, meanwhile, cite the need for such large-scale projects to transition the U.S. away from fossil fuels and to mitigate the effects of climate change.

How do we balance the need for renewable energy with local concerns and impacts? What happens when unexpected allies join together? Join us for a panel discussion on the project and these questions.

Panelists will include Janet Keegan, a board member for Friends of Minidoka, and John Arkoosh, whose family operates a ranch outside the town of Shoshone.