BOISE, Idaho — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced they would be moving forward with the Lava Ridge Wind Project – sparking more controversy about the power project.
If implemented, the project would place up to 241 power-generating windmills across thousands of acres in Jerome, Lincoln and Minidoka counties – namely near the Minidoka National Historic Site which U.S. Senator Jim Risch said he wants to do all to protect it.
“It memorializes a part of American history that we're not particularly proud of, but that should be memorialized so people can see it in the future,” Risch said.
Risch said he still doesn’t think the project will actually move forward – especially once President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
“I made the promise that this wasn't going to be built, and this promise is going to be a lot easier to keep with Donald Trump having been elected,” Risch said.
Once Trump takes office, Risch said he hopes he will sign an executive order to stop the project fully.
“It will be really, really easy for the President to put a wooden stake in the heart of the Lava Ridge project. We're going to do everything we can to make that happen,” Risch said.
If that doesn’t happen, Risch said they can still bring it to the Courts or present alternatives internally in the Senate.
“Anybody who thinks this project is going to get built is delusional,” Risch said.
Since the decision was made, several other people, including Friends of Minidoka, have spoken out in opposition to the project.
"The Lava Ridge project, if fully built, will harm Minidoka's cultural landscape and the sacredness of the site,” Friends of Minidoka wrote in part.
Senator Crapo and Attorney General Raul Labrador also spoke out in opposition to the decision.