FORT HALL — A Council-to-Council meeting between the Fort Hall Business Council and the Southern Ute Tribal Council was held on April 4, 2012 at the Leonard Birch Building in Ignacio, Colorado regarding the partnership that was formed for the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project. Tribal leaders and staff that participated include Councilman Darrell Dixey, Councilman Devon Boyer, and Vice Chairman Glenn Fisher along with Travis Stone, Energy Development Specialist and Executive Director Angelo Gonzales. Shoshone-Bannock Renewable Energy Development Company (SBRED) . . .

TWIN FALLS • A Nevada utility company’s recent decision to pull out of a major wind project along the Idaho and Nevada border has local officials worried about the project’s future. “This might be the nail in the coffin for this project,” said Twin Falls County Commissioner Leon Mills. “I’m unsure at this point if it can go forward.” NV Energy was working with RES Americas to build the 170-turbine China Mountain Wind Project. RES had proposed that the project . . .

CARSON CITY – More studies by the federal government on the future of the sage grouse has prompted NV Energy to pull out of developing a major wind energy project touted to supply 100,000 homes. NV Energy was working with RES America Development to build the China Mountain Wind Project with anywhere from 170 to 200 wind turbines in Elko County and Idaho. The project would be developed on about 25,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management property, and 10,000 . . .

Rep. Erik Simpson, R-Idaho Falls, has been the voice behind two of the bigger issues during the last two legislative sessions—the right for Idahoans to carry concealed weapons on college campuses, as well as a two-year wind moratorium so that the state can step back and take a good look at the wind energy business. These issues garnered hours of testimony and public debate, but never quite got over the hump as far as becoming part of Idaho Code. With . . .

How much are you paying for those wind turbines down the road? Idaho Power claims it’s a lot. The electric utility has asked the state Public Utilities Commission for a number of changes to how Idaho interprets the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act — federal law that requires electric utilities to buy energy from small-scale renewable energy projects that want to hook up to their systems. Since 2009, wind projects hooking up to the company’s system under the law have . . .

I traveled to Boise on Feb. 22 to speak in favor of the wind farm moratorium bill, sponsored by Rep. Erik Simpson of Idaho Falls. I was disappointed that Power County Building Administrator Robert (Bob) Steinlicht was at the Capitol to speak on the side of the multinational wind corporations who do not want a moratorium. Idaho has put off, for far too long, a realistic evaluation of the true costs of wind farms. These turbines are causing power rates . . .

I traveled to Boise on February 22 to speak in favor of the wind farm moratorium bill, sponsored by Rep. Erik Simpson of Idaho Falls. I was disappointed that Power County Building Administrator Robert (Bob) Steinlicht was at the Capitol to speak on the side of the multinational wind corporations who do not want a moratorium. Idaho has put off, for far too long, a realistic evaluation of the true costs of wind farms. These turbines are causing power rates . . .

At the request of House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, the House has just agreed by unanimous consent to hold HB 561, Rep. Erik Simpson’s bill for a two-year moratorium on wind farm development until March 12th; it previously had been on hold until Monday. The 12th is a week from Monday.

A resolution for an interim study committee on wind farms has been introduced unanimously in the Senate State Affairs Committee, with little discussion; Rep. Erik Simpson, R-Idaho Falls, who has a bill pending in the House for a two-year moratorium on wind farm development, said he views the measure as a “competing bill” to his.

JEROME – Drive along Interstate 84 long enough and you’ll begin to notice a trend: simple, but catchy billboards warning against the perils of wind energy. The billboards share their message not in pictures, but with the word “wind” bolded bright red within the word “Swindle.” It’s a warning sprinkled from Jerome to American Falls, sponsored by the Energy Integrity Project, a recently formed group comprised of anti-wind energy activists. The group sees a need to correct statements so far . . .