Resolution Condemning BLM Approval of the Lava Ridge Wind Project

WHEREAS, the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved an application from LS Energy to lease public land for the Lava Ridge Wind Project in Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka counties; and

WHEREAS, the Lava Ridge Wind Project would place 231 wind turbines at up to 660 feet high, along with related infrastructure, within a 38,535-acre area of BLM-managed public lands in Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka counties; and

WHEREAS, the energy created by the Lava Ridge Project is designed and planned to provide energy to Southern Nevada and California; and

WHEREAS, the height of the turbines will impact civil, military, and agricultural flight operations; and

WHEREAS, Idaho is required by law to protect all wildlife, and this project area will severely impact the migration and habitat of local wildlife; and

WHEREAS, these lands have been utilized for agriculture, public recreation, hunting, and fishing by the citizens of Idaho; and

WHEREAS, the blasting required to install the wind turbines can result in contamination or collapse in nearby domestic wells; and

WHEREAS, the Lava Ridge Wind Project encroaches upon the historical significance of the Minidoka National Historic site of the Japanese Relocation Camp from World War II; and

WHEREAS, the Lava Ridge Wind Project has united farmers, ranchers, environmentalists, hunters, water users, tribal nations, state and local governments, aviators, historians, archaeologists, and everyday citizens who don’t want to see Idaho’s lands abused for the purpose of shipping power out-of-state; and

WHEREAS, despite near-unanimous opposition to the Lava Ridge Wind Project by the citizens of Idaho, the Biden Administration and BLM have ignored Idahoans concerns by approving this project.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Blaine County Republican Central Committee condemns BLM approval of the Lava Ridge Wind Project and calls on Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, Idaho Governor Brad Little, U.S. Senator Jim Risch, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, U.S. Representative Mike Simpson, and U.S Representative Russ Fulcher to urge President-elect Donald Trump to sign an executive order to stop the project on his first day in office, and to pursue all litigation options to prevent the Lava Ridge Wind Project from moving forward; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Blaine County Republican Central Committee calls on Idaho Republican Party central committees to pass similar resolutions condemning approval of the Lava Ridge Wind Project, including but not limited to Blaine County’s fellow Region VII county central committees (Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Twin Falls) and legislative district committees (24, 25, 26, and 27); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Blaine County Republican Central Committee shall transmit this resolution to Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, Idaho Governor Brad Little, U.S. Senator Jim Risch, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, U.S. Representative Mike Simpson, and U.S Representative Russ Fulcher; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Blaine County Republican Central Committee shall transmit this resolution by including it on the committee’s website, publishing it on social media channels, and submitting letters to the editor of the Idaho Mountain Express and Times-News.