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A controversial Idaho wind farm was OK’d last month: Now it’s on hold

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A controversial Idaho wind farm was OK’d last month: Now it’s on hold


Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

President Donald Trump signed dozens of executive orders shortly after his inauguration, including one that rolled back the recent approval of a controversial wind farm in south-central Idaho.

Trump signed a temporary order that prompted an immediate review of federal wind leasing and permitting regulations, and specifically halted any activity on the Lava Ridge Wind Project north of Twin Falls. The order said the project, which the Bureau of Land Management approved in December after more than three years of discussion and analysis, “is allegedly contrary to the public interest and suffers from legal deficiencies.”

The order directed the new Interior secretary to review the final BLM analysis and conduct any additional review or environmental impact studies as needed. Trump’s pick for that post, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has not yet been confirmed.

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The Lava Ridge project, which proposed building as many as 230 wind turbines up to 660 feet tall to provide clean energy, was proposed by Magic Valley Energy. The company said the project could power half a million homes and create jobs for Idaho residents. Magic Valley Energy has also proposed a wind farm on federal land southwest of Twin Falls. That project, Salmon Falls, is still in early stages.

The Idaho Statesman reached out to Magic Valley Energy for comment on the executive order.

The project was criticized by multiple groups and politicians. Perhaps the most outspoken was the Friends of Minidoka, a nonprofit focused on the preservation of the Minidoka National Historic Site, which was an internment camp for imprisoned Japanese Americans during World War II.

The group said the wind turbines—which would be visible from the historic site northeast of Twin Falls—disturbed the historic view-shed and made it impossible for visitors to understand the true isolation of the camp. In a statement Tuesday, Friends of Minidoka Executive Director Robyn Achilles told the Statesman the group is “pleased” that the project is on hold.

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“The proposed Lava Ridge wind development should be stopped and the area outside of Minidoka should be protected from future energy development that harms the viewshed of the park,” Achilles said.

Lava Ridge also drew criticism from local politicians in Twin Falls and Jerome, as well as ranchers with existing grazing leases on the proposed wind farm site. Idaho’s congressional delegation, all Republicans, were also outspoken critics.

In a statement, Idaho Sen. Jim Risch’s office said the longtime lawmaker co-wrote the executive order with the Trump administration.

“I made a promise to Idahoans that I would not rest until the Lava Ridge Wind Project was terminated. On day one, President Donald Trump took action to keep that promise,” Risch said in a news release.

Sen. Mike Crapo, as well as Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, also applauded the executive order.

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“The Lava Ridge Wind Project is unwelcome and has zero place in our state,” Simpson said in a statement.

Not all Idahoans opposed the project. The Idaho Conservation League, a longtime environmental advocacy group, backed the project last year after the BLM opted for a scaled-down version of the wind farm amid complaints. Adrian Gallo, the group’s climate program manager, said in a report that Lava Ridge “is not perfect, but it is necessary.”

2025 The Idaho Statesman. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Citation:
A controversial Idaho wind farm was OK’d last month: Now it’s on hold (2025, January 22)
retrieved 22 January 2025
from https://techxplore.com/news/2025-01-controversial-idaho-farm-okd-month.html

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California police chief probed for sleeping at station while living 600 miles away

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California police chief probed for sleeping at station while living 600 miles away


A Bay Area police chief set up a bed in his local station where he reportedly slept during the week before returning to his home more than 600 miles away in Idaho on the weekends — prompting calls for his removal.

Eamonn Allen, chief of police in Millbrae, about 15 miles south of San Francisco, is the subject of a formal complaint filed by the city manager to the county attorney.

The complaint was triggered by a bombshell KGO-TV report that included photographs of two bedrooms that had been added to the Millbrae police station since Allen became chief of police sometime before summer of 2024.

Eamonn Allen, chief of police in Millbrae, Calif., is the subject of a formal complaint. Linkedin

An examination of property records found that Allen bought a home just outside Boise, Idaho in June of last year, according to the local outlet.

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When asked whether he was living in Idaho, Allen declined to respond to KGO-TV.

The formal complaint filed against Allen states that the police chief used the police station “as bedroom facilities” since he “now resides in the Boise, Idaho area.”

According to Millbrae’s Code of Ethics, “[n]o public employee shall use…city owned property for personal need, convenience or profit.”

“If someone is living out of county or out of state, they have to pay for their own lodging, meaning San Mateo County is not a Holiday Inn,” San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President David Canepa told local ABC affiliate.

Allen allegedly set up a bed in his local station where he slept during the week before returning to his home in Idaho more than 600 miles away on the weekend.

“We need to see was someone living in there permanently?” Canepa said.

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“These are taxpayer dollars and so we need to make sure that what’s taking place in those facilities really is for the good of the taxpayer. That means people aren’t living there.”

Police officers who work a night shift and need to appear in court the next day are given beds, but those are exceptions to the rule, according to Canepa.

Law enforcement experts also said that the fact that Allen lives so far away is problematic, given that police heads need to be able to respond at a moment’s notice in case of an emergency.

Another photo shows Allen’s reported living space inside the Millbrae police station.

Richard Corriea, a former commander in the San Francisco Police Department, told KGO-TV that “not [to be] able to return to work on short notice in the event of an emergency is ridiculous.”

A chief of police must be available to respond immediately in case of a high-profile crime, earthquake or some other disaster.

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“You’d want a police chief that’s a stakeholder in the community and able to experience the community at a granular level to really understand it and know what’s going on, and also to be present on short notice,” Corriea said.

An examination of property records found that Allen bought a home just outside Boise, Idaho, in June of last year.

The KGO-TV investigation also discovered that at least six sergeants in the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office lived out of state — in Idaho, Nevada, Texas and Tennessee.

Two of those sergeants work on the bomb squad, where deputies are paid nearly $600,000 a year, including benefits.

The Post has sought comment from the Millbrae Police Department and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

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The Sawtooth Range’s Role in Shaping a Skier’s Family Life

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The Sawtooth Range’s Role in Shaping a Skier’s Family Life


Recently, Mountaineering On SI caught up with Lexi Dupont, a Big Mountain skier and well-known adventure seeker, as she begins her new role as a mountain mom, sharing the outdoors with her daughter. Dupont shared her most exciting times ripping lines down big Alaskan peaks. Lexi grew up in Ketchum, Idaho, where she regularly ventured into the famous Sawtooth Range in her backyard. Those Sawtooths shaped her incredible mountain skills, providing opportunities to ski and climb the world’s mountains.

Mountaineering On SI: Tell us about your athletic background with mountaineering, skiing, and /backcountry experiences?
Lexi Dupont: I’ve spent my life exploring the Idaho backcountry—running up mountains, playing in high mountain lakes, and floating down wild rivers. These landscapes honed my skills, elevating my skiing to a professional level, allowing me to ski untouched mountains worldwide. Whether ski touring, bootpacking, or snowmobiling to reach the summit, backcountry skiing remains my passion. From Alaska to Norway, the thrill of first descents drives my love for adventure.

Mountaineering On SI: What events or mountain missions have inspired you most?
Lexi Dupont: I think my first film trip in 2010 was the most standout backcountry experience of my entire career. I worked with Eddie Bauer and was honored to film with Warren Miller in Svalbard, Norway. We camped on a glacier in weather under 20 degrees F, and put down first descents on epic couloirs.

We carried flares on our boots and set up alarm systems around our tents to protect ourselves from the polar bears. Gosh, it was such an epic trip! Of course, I was the only girl and about 20 years younger than everyone on the trip, and I had the time of my life. After that trip, I knew a career exploring the backcountry was the life for me.

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Mountaineering On SI: What has been your most memorable experience and why?
Lexi Dupont: My most memorable experiences have taken place in Southeast Alaska, mastering spine skiing. After 16 years of skiing there, often as the only woman, I know those days are my most joyous. When everything goes right, everyone makes it home, and we’re all celebrating together, those are the moments I cherish most.

Mountaineering On SI: What are the three things that you are stoked about for the upcoming winter?
Lexi Dupont: I’m excited to get my daughter, Marli Jade, on skis this spring. She’s 5 months old now, but as soon as she can walk, we’ll start. I’m also looking forward to hosting three Sister Summit events this winter—women’s backcountry ski and snowboard gatherings. We aim to grow the community and create equal opportunities on the mountain for women.

Mountaineering On SI: Do you have a place in the world?
Lexi Dupont: My favorite place is Sun Valley, Idaho. Born and raised there, I’m a third-generation skier. My grandfather taught me, my mom coached me, and as a family, we spent every winter day on that mountain. I can’t wait to share Sun Valley’s joys with the next generation. Raising kids outdoors nurtures health and values, helping them become balanced, compassionate, and adventurous. I’m grateful my parents co-parented with nature, and I aim to do the same. Nature is the most fabulous playground!





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1 dead, 1 airlifted in southern Idaho crash

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1 dead, 1 airlifted in southern Idaho crash


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