The former president is furious. Donald Trump is destroying his legacy with ease.
And Biden is slamming his head on his desk because of what President Trump did to him.
Trump Administration Halts Major Idaho Wind Farm Near Historic Japanese American Site
The Trump administration has scrapped a major wind energy project in Idaho, a decision announced on Wednesday that reverses a late-term approval from President Joe Biden’s administration. The Lava Ridge Wind Project, set to rise northeast of Twin Falls, had sparked controversy due to its location near the Minidoka National Historic Site, where Japanese Americans were put in prison during World War II.
The Bureau of Land Management had approved a scaled-down version of the project in December, reducing the number of turbines to 241 from an initial 400. But on the first day of President Donald Trump’s second term, an executive order froze all wind power permits nationwide and called for a review of the Lava Ridge decision.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, announcing the cancellation, stated, “By reversing the Biden administration’s thoughtless approval of the Lava Ridge Wind Project, we are protecting tens of thousands of acres from harmful wind policy while shielding the interests of rural Idaho communities.”
“This decisive action defends the American taxpayer, safeguards our land, and averts what would have been one of the largest, most irresponsible wind projects in the nation.”
The project, in development for five years, faced pushback from locals concerned about the turbines’ height—reaching up to 660 feet, which is over double the height of the Statue of Liberty.
Critics also argued the turbines, planned nine miles from Minidoka, would disrupt the historic site’s visual landscape.
Robyn Achilles, executive director of Friends of Minidoka, said in a text, “We must protect Minidoka from future development, so we continue to seek long term protections for the BLM land in Minidoka’s cultural viewshed.” Her group is still reviewing the administration’s move.
The Interior Department’s announcement omitted mention of Minidoka. Magic Valley Energy, the project’s developer, has not yet responded to inquiries.
When approved, the Bureau of Land Management touted the project’s capacity to power 500,000 homes, stressing a balance between clean energy and preserving cultural and natural resources.
Wind power remains one of the cheapest energy sources, often outpacing new natural gas plants in cost.
Yet, the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have targeted wind and solar as costly and inconsistent, favoring fossil fuels instead.
While wind and solar produce power intermittently, batteries are enabling them to compete with oil, gas, and coal by ensuring steady electricity.
Recent moves reinforce this shift. Last month, Trump signed legislation phasing out clean energy tax credits. An executive order soon followed, further curbing renewable subsidies.
On July 17, Burgum mandated his personal approval for all wind and solar projects on federal lands, requiring “elevated review” of plans.
The Interior Department framed these restrictions as ending “preferential treatment for unreliable, subsidy-dependent wind and solar energy.” Burgum also canceled offshore wind plans in federal waters and issued an order emphasizing “capacity density” to assess land use.
Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, called the policies obstructive, stating, “This isn’t oversight. It’s obstruction that will needlessly harm the fastest growing sources of electric power.”
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