An Idaho County Banned Wind and Solar Projects. Some Locals Regret It.

An Idaho county that previously voted to ban utility-scale renewable energy projects is now moving to reverse its stance, exposing deep local divisions as communities grapple with economic pressures, climate-driven drought, and soaring energy demands, according to reporting by Mother Jones.

The controversy in Bannock County centers on whether rural communities can or should revisit their assumptions about clean energy development. After commissioners passed a restrictive ordinance by a 2-1 vote in March 2024 following an initial moratorium in October 2023, local dynamics shifted dramatically. Jeff Hough, who opposed the original ban and has since become chair of the county commission, has championed the upcoming vote to overturn the restrictions, arguing that the county must signal it is open for business.

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The stakes are high for Idaho’s power grid. Aaron Menenberg, Idaho policy manager for Renewable Northwest, noted that the state cannot afford to turn down new energy sources given surging regional demand. Furthermore, Bannock County’s geographic location near the Populus substation makes it an ideal hub for integrating power onto the grid for Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and the Pacific Northwest. Proponents of lifting the ban point to neighboring counties that generated substantial tax revenue from renewable projects in 2024, money that could help replace vanishing services in struggling rural towns.

However, the community remains starkly polarized. Anti-solar campaigners, led locally by residents such as Rebecca Falcon and Dez Hauser, successfully organized to cement the moratorium after being approached by developers like Balanced Rock Power and Hecate Energy. Opponents argue that massive solar installations consume prime agricultural land, industrialize rural valleys, and leave lingering questions about long-term decommissioning responsibilities.

The push to diversify local income streams has become increasingly urgent as severe drought and climate change ravage traditional family farming. Steve Criddle, a third-generation farmer in south Bannock County, reported a massive drop in hay yields due to extreme drought conditions affecting the majority of the county following a winter of record-low snowfall. For farmers like Criddle and Dale Lish—who previously signed a now-cancelled option contract with Hecate Energy—leasing unproductive land for solar projects offered a vital lifeline to keep multi-generational farms afloat, with per-acre income projections significantly higher than traditional grain farming alone.

As the county commission prepares for its upcoming vote on the revised energy ordinance this fall, the outcome remains uncertain. Local divisions in Bannock County will test whether a rural community can successfully re-embrace renewable development after slamming the door shut.

What to Watch Next

• The county commission's upcoming vote this fall on the new draft ordinance regulating solar, wind, and nuclear energy development.
• Whether renewable energy developers like Balanced Rock Power choose to revive their private land projects if the ban is officially lifted.
• The implementation of proposed county guardrails, including mandatory decommissioning bonds and site-restoration plans.