Community members who want to provide input about Magic Energy LLC's plan to build, operate, maintain and decommission its Lava Ridge Wind project in Idaho will have the opportunity to do so in September during public meetings called by the Bureau of Land Management.
The Biden administration is targeting a goal of 25 gigawatts of onshore renewable energy by 2025, the Department of Interior said in a release. The Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project, 25 miles northeast of Twin Falls, can potentially generate 1,000 megawatts of wind energy.
“Renewable wind projects are a critical component of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to confronting climate change, promoting clean air and water for our current and future generations, creating thousands of good-paying union jobs, and jump-starting our country’s transition to a clean energy future,” Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in the release. “At the Interior Department, we are doing our part to ensure these projects are done thoughtfully and avoid impacts to surrounding communities. The Department is committed to public input and meaningful Tribal consultation to uphold our trust and treaty responsibilities.”
The zoom meetings are scheduled for Sept., 8 from 2-3 p.m. MDT and on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. MDT. Pre-registration is needed.
The outline intended for the federal land is expected to help communities contribute to climate solutions and create union jobs with high wages.
Spanning an estimated 10,000-acre footprint, the Idaho-based offshore wind project, within Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka counties, will also deliver sufficient power to energize approximately 87,500 homes, a lease for the first renewable energy project in the Pacific, and a wave energy research project in federal waters.
Intended to interconnect the Idaho Power Midpoint substation to the northern portion of the Southwest Intertie Project – Northern Portion (SWIP-North), the line will include “400 wind turbines, up to seven new substations, approximately 198 miles of 34.5 kilovolts (kV) collector lines, 34 miles of 230 kV transmission lines, 18 miles of 500 kV transmission lines, 381 miles of access roads, 47 miles of temporary crane paths, a battery energy storage system,” among other efforts, Interior officials said.
