POCATELLO — Bannock County commissioners are mulling the restoration of commercial wind, solar and nuclear energy projects as conditional-use permits, with the addition of an extensive list of necessary requirements.
Following the expiration of a temporary six-month moratorium on solar, wind and nuclear projects, the commissioners issued a total ban via ordinance in March 2024. The decision was hotly contested, with several dozen local residents packing the meeting. Twenty-seven people spoke against passing the ordinance and 18 spoke in favor. The ordinance passed with Commissioner Ernie Moser and now-former Commissioner John Crowder voting for it. Current Commissioner Jeff Hough cast the sole vote against the ordinance implementing the permanent ban.
Since then, Bannock County’s Planning & Development has embarked on the mission of drafting a new comprehensive Land Use & Development Ordinance, expressing interest in investigating other county ordinances that allow certain alternative energy projects while still protecting the natural environment, property owners’ rights and taxpayer interests, according to information posted to the county’s website.
The current proposal would allow solar, wind and nuclear energy as conditional-use permits following a public hearing with extensive requirements, including an emergency plan, erosion and sediment control plan, a fire protection plan, visual impact analysis, extensive setback requirements, a termination and decommissioning plan, wildlife studies, transportation plan, weed control plan and a fish, wildlife and native plant protection plan.
The proposal would allow conditional-use permits for wind and solar in agricultural, commercial general, industrial and light industrial zones, with permission for nuclear in the same zones minus agricultural.
Much like discussions of alternative energy solutions in county commissioner meetings last year, the topic has already evoked strong opinions on both sides.
In an opinion column in the Idaho State Journal, Commissioner Jeff Hough said that over the past year he has been “doing his homework” on these projects and found that “standing still costs us more than thoughtfully moving forward.”
Part of the reason Hough said he would support the new proposals is Idaho Power’s long-term plan, which projects customer growth from 648,000 to 867,000 by 2045. Those numbers are affected by massive projects like Meta’s data center in Kuna and Micron’s expansion in Boise. Idaho Power’s solution would be to add 1,445 megawatts of solar, 885 megawatts of battery storage and 700 megawatts of wind, plus converted coal plants and natural gas.
Hough suspects that Idaho Power will still accomplish its plan but that if nothing is done locally, the company will go to places like Power or Bingham counties or neighboring states. He also argued the value these projects have in providing supplemental income to area farmers and how money generated from energy projects can bring in jobs and bolster the local economy. The additional revenue could have positive, lasting effects on school funding, county services and property taxes, Hough wrote.
“My goal isn’t to turn Bannock County into an energy hub,” Hough wrote. “My goal is to make sure we have options — that our farmers can choose to diversify their income if they want, that our county can capture tax revenue for local needs, that businesses looking to locate here don’t cross us off their list because of power constraints. Most of all, I want your kids to have the same choice I hope my kids have — the choice to build a life here if they want to, because there are good jobs and a strong economy and a future worth staying for.”
But for detractors of the proposal like Craig Yadon, chair of the Bannock County GOP and candidate for county commissioner, restoring the possibility of alternative energy projects would not only waste taxpayer money but have significant impacts on the beauty of Idaho’s landscape.
In an opinion column published in the Idaho State Journal, Yadon cited examples like the battery energy storage system fire in Moss Landing, California, and the Lava Ridge Wind Project as points of contention, along with wind turbines and acres of solar panels along the interstate creating eyesores that detract from Idaho’s landscapes.
Yadon also claimed the reason the federal government is cutting off funding for these alternative energy projects is their reliance on government subsidies, which require construction to begin in 2026 and production to start by 2027 to qualify for remaining funds.
“If it weren’t for our hard-earned tax dollars subsidizing them, none of these projects would get off the ground,” Yadon wrote.
Bannock County commissioners will hold public hearings on the proposal starting in late April and continuing into early June.
Once a decision is made, the outcome could significantly transform the way the region approaches alternative energy.