Wind Energy

View looking south from the top of Cotterel Mountain, site of Idaho's first wind energy project.
Wind power uses turbines to capture the kinetic energy of wind currents and convert it  into electrical power.  Utility-scale turbines are mounted on towers 200 feet or more above the land surface, where winds are faster and there is less turbulence.  Technological advances in turbine siting and design have increased their generating capacity while continuing to reduce their environmental impact.


Because there are no emissions involved, wind energy's environmental impact per unit of electricity generated in significantly lower than that of more common forms of power generation.  In addition, wind energy is not subject to the same price fluctuations as natural gas and oil.  The production of electric power using wind conserves natural gas and helps relieve price pressures on that resource.

The U.S. has about 21,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity.  Projects with about 327 MW of capacity have been installed on lands in the National System of Public Lands, managed by the BLM.  Applications for up to 3,000 MW additional capacity are being processed in BLM offices nationwide.

The BLM processes wind energy development proposals as right-of-way (ROW) applications, through its Lands & Realty divisions.  Realty specialists in BLM Field Offices are guided by the 2005 programmatic EIS on wind energy development and the Bureau's wind energy development policy.  For details on applying for a wind energy project ROW, click <here>.

Cotterel Mountain (Burley)

The ROW grant for the Cotterel Wind Power Project was approved in August 2006.  The project area is located in south-central Idaho on 4,500 acres of public land about five miles east of Albion, Idaho in Cassia County (Burley Field Office).

Close up view of a wind energy turbine (hub and blades)The ROW grant allows installation of up to 98 turbines, for 200 MW capacity — enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 50,000 homes, distributed through the regional power grid. 

The grant includes important measures for mitigating effects on wildlife, especially sage-grouse, raptors, bats and migratory birds.

China Mountain (Jarbidge)

Members of the Twin Falls Resource Advisory Committee tour the China Mountain proposed site.The BLM began review of the proposed China Mountain wind energy project in the spring of 2008.  An environmental impact statement (EIS) of the proposed 425 MW facility analyzes the potential impacts of the project and identify any conditions of approval or mitigation measures necessary to protect environmental, cultural or tribal resources. 

Of the approximately 30,700 acres in the project area, 15,300 acres are administered by the Jarbidge FO, and 4,700 acres are administered by the BLM field office in Wells, Nevada (Elko District).  Following public scoping 
(April 21 - July 21, 2008), the BLM is collecting data and preparing a Draft EIS, scheduled for availability and comment in January 2010.

The BLM completed an environmental assessment (EA) for siting three meteorological (met) towers to measure wind in the area in October 2009.

The BLM planning process allows for broad public involvement, tribal consultation, and cooperation by other governmental agencies.  Join the project mailing list to receive updates on the progress of the EIS.