Trump Administration Halts Controversial Idaho Wind Farm Approved Under Biden

The Trump administration has rescinded federal approval for the Lava Ridge Wind Project in southern Idaho, reversing a late-term Biden decision. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the cancellation protects taxpayers, rural communities, and historically significant land from what he called a “thoughtless approval.” The move has been welcomed by Idaho’s Republican leadership and residents who opposed the project’s location and scale.

The Lava Ridge Wind Project, proposed for federal land near the Minidoka National Historic Site, would have installed 241 turbines reaching heights of up to 660 feet—more than twice the height of the Statue of Liberty. The historic site marks the internment of over 13,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. Opponents argued the turbines would irreparably alter the solemn character of the memorial and surrounding rural landscape.

Originally slated to produce 1,000 megawatts of power—enough for about 500,000 homes—the project had been downsized under Biden’s Bureau of Land Management before receiving final approval. Critics, including legal experts, have claimed that the prior approval contained legal deficiencies and bypassed statutory safeguards. Secretary Burgum cited these issues in his decision to halt the project, asserting the federal government should not impose industrial-scale energy projects against the wishes of impacted communities.

Idaho’s Republican delegation strongly supported the reversal. Senator Jim Risch and Congressman Mike Simpson praised the decision as a victory for state sovereignty and historic preservation. State and local officials have long voiced concerns over the potential environmental, cultural, and economic impacts of placing such a large-scale industrial project in the area.

The decision fits within President Trump’s broader energy policy, which favors domestic fossil fuel production and limits federal backing for large-scale wind and solar projects. Legal challenges from the project’s developers remain possible, as federal agencies are generally restricted in reversing previously issued Records of Decision without substantial justification. Whether the Lava Ridge Wind Project will be revived under a different proposal or permanently shelved is still uncertain.

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