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LS Power Announces Second Major Clean Energy Project Planned for Southern Idaho

LS Power Announces Second Major Clean Energy Project Planned for Southern Idaho

March 17, 2022

Magic Valley Energy, LLC (MVE), an affiliate of leading energy company LS Power, is pleased to announce that it is developing a second wind energy project in Southern Idaho. This new clean energy project, named the Salmon Falls Wind Project, is proposed on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Twin Falls County. With the potential to bring approximately 800 megawatts of renewable energy to power markets across the West, the Salmon Falls Wind Project provides an opportunity for a meaningful contribution toward a cleaner electric grid while providing significant economic benefits to Southern Idaho.

The Salmon Falls proposal is uniquely situated at the confluence of a number of key siting characteristics, including favorable wind resources, availability of suitable land, compatibility with existing land uses, a general absence of sensitive biological resources, and proximity to existing and future planned high voltage transmission lines to deliver the wind energy to market.

This project along with MVE’s Lava Ridge Wind Project under development southeast of Shoshone, Idaho will contribute to satisfying the critical need for zero carbon electricity throughout the West. Tens of thousands of megawatts of new wind energy projects are needed in coming years to satisfy renewable energy goals in the region.

The Salmon Falls project represents a significant investment in clean energy infrastructure and will generate economic benefits that are sustainable for the long term. Benefits would include hundreds of well-paid construction jobs, up to 20 permanent jobs, and millions of dollars in local economic impact annually, including a substantial boost to local and state tax revenue. Tax revenues generated during the construction period are estimated to exceed $46 million. Furthermore, during the operations phase, local taxing districts would be the beneficiaries of new revenues, including more than $600,000 annually to the Filer School District, as well as significant amounts to the Twin Falls Highway District, the College of Southern Idaho, and the Salmon Tract Fire taxing district.

“The need for renewable energy across the West continues to grow,” noted MVE project director Luke Papez. “Idaho has been a longstanding leader in the generation of clean energy and the Salmon Falls project continues this legacy, positioning Idaho at the forefront of production of wind energy in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner, while supporting significant increases in economic benefits that few other opportunities can provide.”

MVE is in the initial stages of the development of the project, a period that includes interactions with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as broader outreach to local stakeholders. Construction of the project could begin as early as 2024. “We look forward to continuing our coordination with communities in the Magic Valley to make the Salmon Falls Wind Project a success,” said Papez.

For more information, please visit www.magicvalleyenergy.com.

About LS Power:

LS Power is a development, investment, and operating company focused on the North American power and energy infrastructure sector. Since its inception in 1990, LS Power has developed, constructed, managed, or acquired more than 46,000 MW of power generation, including utility-scale solar, wind, hydro, natural gas-fired, and battery energy storage projects, of which ~17,000 MW are currently operating. LS Power’s Energy Transition Platforms include CPower Energy Management, Endurant Energy, EVgo, Rise Light & Power, and REV Renewables, as well as Waste-to-Energy initiatives. In addition, LS Power developed and operates over 680 miles of high-voltage transmission, with an additional 100+ miles and multiple substations under construction. Across these efforts, LS Power has raised $50 billion in debt and equity financing to support North American infrastructure. Through 2021, assets under LS Power control avoided 80.67 million metric tons of CO2e, equivalent to nearly 187 million barrels of oil not consumed or over 17.5 million cars taken off the road for one year. For more information, please visit www.LSPower.com.