Idaho Power: Wind developer trying to game system
Associated Press, www.khq.com 22 August 2011
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 projects in Elmore and Owyhee counties for the utility’s Oregon customers – and qualify for the attractive rate.
Idaho Power calls this blatant manipulation.
The developer’s lawyer, Peter Richardson, argues the Idaho Public Utilities Commission is forbidden from intervening because it would violate U.S. constitutional prohibitions on limiting interstate commerce.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/23/idaho-power-wind-developer-trying-to-game-system/