by Akemi Tamanaha, Associate Editor

The federal government recently approved a wind farm in Idaho near Minidoka National Historic Site, where 13,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II.

Japanese Americans and their allies have objected to the wind farm since it was announced in 2020. They believe it will blight the landscape of the site and ruin its immersive experience.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved plans proposed by LS Power, a private energy company, for the Lava Ridge Wind Project on Friday. The approved plan is half the size of the original proposal and the number of wind turbines has been reduced from 400 to 241. The first turbine will also be built at least nine miles away from the site, but advocates say it will still do damage.

“The Lava Ridge project, if fully built, will harm Minidoka’s cultural landscape and the sacredness of the site,” Friends of Minidoka, the nonprofit philanthropic partner for Minidoka National Historic Site, said in a statement.

Pilgrimages to Minidoka have helped survivors heal from their experiences. The site has also become a place of education for descendants of survivors as well as other groups. The Lava Ridge project, advocates say, would threaten all of it.

Organizations like Friends of Minidoka have voiced their concerns to BLM since the project was announced. In 2022, the wind farm plans also prompted the National Trust for Preservation to name Minidoka as one of the 11 most endangered historic places in the country.

Friends of Minidoka said Friday’s decision does include some protections for Minidoka. BLM says it will defer any future wind and solar permits on 220,000 acres surrounding the historic site.

“We hope to work closely with the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management in the coming years to ensure no more harm is done to Minidoka— the Friends of Minidoka, survivors, descendants, and the Japanese American community deserve a front seat at the table for any future decisions that affect this area,” Friends of Minidoka said in a statement.

The organization added that it is still reviewing the BLM decision. Advocates have not decided whether they will take legal action against the Lava Ridge project.

“Thank you to Minidoka survivors, descendants, and allies for all of your work on behalf of Minidoka,” Friends of Minidoka said. “We will follow up with more information after we fully review the Record of Decision.”

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