Wind Power News: Idaho
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
BPA reworking process for planning transmission lines
Renewable energy developments in the Northwest may soon benefit from more flexibility in the transmission planning process. The past several years have been marked by an increase of wind power developments, partially because of laws requiring utilities to add renewable energy to their portfolios. The Bonneville Power Administration, which controls three-quarters of the Northwest’s high-voltage transmission lines, has been working to figure out how to prepare for the new wind power. But not all of the projects that generated transmission . . .
Turbine wind farms coming to private lands
New wind turbines may pop up south of Twin Falls. There are 4 applications in to Twin Falls County planning and zoning. Right now the P and Z board of commissioners are reviewing the application. The 4 projects make up a wind farm complex just west and south of rogerson. It could have around 50 wind turbines built. The planning and zoning director says they’ve had to deal with some new issues. Bill Crafton, Director of Twin Falls County P&Z . . .
Idaho wind projects seek Oregon rates
Idaho Power Co. is asking state regulators to assert jurisdiction over two Idaho-based wind projects that want to sell their output in Oregon to qualify for that state’s published rates. The two projects, Tumbleweed Energy II in Elmore County and Western Desert Energy I in Owyhee County, seek Idaho Power’s approval of a Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) contract to sell power to Idaho Power’s Oregon customers at Oregon rates. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently reduced the . . .
Blowin’ in the wind
Wind-rich east Idaho has attracted a plethora of developers in recent years, and, as a result, wind turbines now dot several of the local horizons and carry the promise of many more to come. Bonneville County has approved requests for at least six wind farms in recent years, two of which are already in operation. Power County has approved two wind farms, which are both set for completion by the end of the year. Bingham County has approved at least . . .
Idaho Power: Wind developer trying to game system
Idaho Power Co. contends a Boise-based wind power developer is manipulating the system by trying to force the utility to buy electricity for its Oregon customers. In Idaho, regulators since last year have had a 100 kilowatt cap on the size of wind projects that qualify for an attractive rate for their electricity. In Oregon, that cap is higher, at 10 megawatts. The Boise developer wants to force Idaho Power to buy power from its 10 megawatt and 5 megawatt . . .
Palouse Wind named defendant in wind farm case
Over the objection of plaintiff Roger Whitten, a judge Monday added Palouse Wind Energy LLC as a defendant in Whitten’s appeals of two Whitman County rulings allowing a turbine farm in Oakesdale. The preliminary hearing also resulted in the two appeals being consolidated into one and both examined at the hearing on Sept. 12, said Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy. Whitten, a long-standing wind farm opponent, has filed two appeals — one against the conditional use permit issued for the . . .
States won’t give higher rates to wind
A handful of Idaho wind energy developers will have to negotiate how much they’ll be paid for the energy they produce after state regulators said again that they’ll offer special rates to only the smallest producers. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday reaffirmed four June 8 orders stating that it won’t extend to 14 proposed projects its previously larger cap on the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act rates that created a favorable climate for the development of wind energy . . .
Does a PUC decision signal end of Idaho wind industry?
Promoters say a PUC decision to kill access to favorable power rates will strangle the billion-dollar sector. The three-member Idaho Public Utilities Commission handed the state’s three investor-owned utilities a victory when they made permanent a lower cap on what projects qualify for a federal law designed to encourage small, sustainable power projects. But the real effect will be on one of the fastest-growing industries in the state — at least according to the people pushing the expansion of wind . . .
Idaho keeps smaller rate for wind, solar power production
A handful of Idaho wind energy developers will have to negotiate how much they’ll be paid for the energy they produce after state regulators decided they’ll offer special rates to only the smallest producers. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday announced it won’t reinstate for now a larger cap on the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act rates that created a favorable climate for the development of wind energy in Idaho. The state is required to determine and publish the . . .
Cassia Co. projects affected as PUC won’t extend wind energy rate cap increase
Seven proposed Cassia County wind energy projects could lose out on millions of dollars once guaranteed under the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday determined it won’t extend the increased cap on the guaranteed rates that created a favorable climate for the development of wind energy in Idaho. The PUC opted to limit the amount of power wind and solar projects can qualify for PURPA rates to 100 kilowatts – one one-hundredth of the . . .
