An Idaho County Banned Wind and Solar Projects. Some Locals Regret It.
This story was originally co-published by Canary Media and the Daily Yonder, and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Jeff Hough did not pull any punches. What his fellow Republican county commissioners were about to do, he said to the packed courthouse, would violate America’s founding ideals. He quoted the Declaration of Independence to make his case. […]
Idaho County commissioners recently banned wind and solar projects in Bannock County, citing concerns that such developments would violate the principles upon which the nation was founded. County Commissioner Jeff Hough, speaking to a crowded courthouse, quoted the Declaration of Independence to argue that the ban was in line with the founding ideals of the United States.
Following Hough's impassioned plea, the ordinance passed by a narrow 2-1 vote, with Hough being the only dissenting voice. Since then, Hough has become the chair of the commission and is working to overturn the ordinance. The ban, which has been enacted in nearly one in four US counties, has sparked debate across the nation, particularly in rural areas.
In Bannock County, the moratorium was introduced by Hough in October 2023 as a means to regulate clean energy developments and ensure they balance economic opportunity with responsible land stewardship. However, the ban has faced significant opposition, particularly in south Bannock County where residents are skeptical of leasing their land to solar developers.
Hough believes that reversing the ban would be beneficial for the county's economic future, citing Idaho Power's projected 26% increase in electricity demand by 2030. He argues that the county could bring in much-needed economic development through renewable energy projects, while also offsetting the costs of essential services that are dwindling due to rural population decline and climate change-induced drought.
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