News
Category:
Idaho
A new study led by a U.S. Geological Survey biologist reaches a simple conclusion: Do not disturb the sage grouse.
Steve Knick's work shows that 99 percent of active leks, or breeding sites, are in areas with no more than 3 percent of the land disturbed by humans for uses such as roads, power lines, pipelines and communication towers.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Impact on Birds]
US FERC takes Idaho PUC to court over wind power qualifying facility contracts
March 25, 2013 by Esther Whieldon in Platts
March 25, 2013 by Esther Whieldon in Platts
FERC claims the PUC violated the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act when it held that Idaho Power was not obligated to buy from a number of wind generators because the utility did not sign the QF contracts prior to December 14, 2010, which was when the QF qualification threshold dropped to 100 kW from 10 MW.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
USA]
Bulgarian court overrules hefty fees on renewable energy
March 15, 2013 by Tsvetelia Tsolova in Reuters
March 15, 2013 by Tsvetelia Tsolova in Reuters
Protests over high electricity bills - partially due to a surge in expensive green energy - toppled the government in the European Union's poorest country. ...The new rulings are likely to deepen the crisis in its troubled energy sector.Seeking to meet its 2020 target to have 16 percent of its energy coming from renewable sources, Sofia offered preferential tariffs for green energy and dozens of Austrian, Italian, American and South Korean investors rushed in.
Also filed under [
General]
Idaho PUC's new rules could be bad news for large wind projects
December 19, 2012 in North American Windpower
December 19, 2012 in North American Windpower
Under the new rules, the cap for wind and solar projects seeking the PUC's published avoided-cost rates is 100 kW. The eligibility cap for all other QFs remains 10 MW. Wind and solar projects larger than 100 kW are eligible for a negotiated avoided-cost rate using each utility's long-range growth plan as the basis for the negotiation.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
The three-member commission that regulates the state's three monopoly electric utilities denied Idaho Power's request to curtail existing wind power plants during low demand except in emergencies ...But it also limited the size of wind and solar plants eligible for a simple published power price to only 100 kilowatts, forcing larger developers to negotiate with utilities on rates and credits.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
FERC initiates unprecedented enforcement action against Idaho PUC
November 21, 2012 by Rocky Barker in Idaho Statesman
November 21, 2012 by Rocky Barker in Idaho Statesman
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will seek to enforce an earlier order against the Idaho Public Utilities Commission over wind power projects near Murphy.
The federal commission oversees electric and natural gas delivery policy. Its ruling says the Idaho commission violated federal law when it denied an appeal by developers for three Murphy Flat wind power projects.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
USA]
Idaho's power line route reveals clashing values, dueling processes
November 5, 2012 by Rocky Barker in Idaho Statesman
November 5, 2012 by Rocky Barker in Idaho Statesman
The decision to toss out two routes across the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey area that had been negotiated by the involved parties has brought ire from local, state and national Idaho politicians. At the same time, it has brought praise from a national environmental group seeking to preserve the protections of the landscape-conservation system that includes the Birds of Prey area.
Also filed under [
Transmission]
More allegations fly over wind farm near Blue Earth
October 29, 2012 by David Shaffer in Star Tribune
October 29, 2012 by David Shaffer in Star Tribune
Contractor Fagen Inc. asked a federal judge for an expedited ruling on who owns the nearly completed Big Blue Wind Farm in southwestern Minnesota.
Fagen, a construction company, alleged that the project's financially struggling original developer, Exergy Development Group of Idaho, has tried to extract a "dubious and unearned" $2.6 million fee from the contractor.
Contractor lays claim to ownership of wind farm near Blue Earth
October 26, 2012 by David Shaffer in Star Tribune
October 26, 2012 by David Shaffer in Star Tribune
Fagen alleged that the original developer of the project, Exergy Development Group of Idaho, didn't repay $11 million it borrowed from Fagen, causing the wind farm's ownership to transfer to Fagen under a February agreement. ...Exergy recently suspended development of a series of Idaho wind projects, blaming regulatory delays and other factors.
Fagen Inc. says it's entitled to ownership of the 18-turbine "Big Blue Project," near Blue Earth, Minn., on grounds that Exergy Development Group hasn't repaid an $11.4 million loan.
Granite Falls, Minn.-based Fagen says Exergy disputes ownership of the project.
Idaho Power and other utilities have been scuffling with wind farms over whether utilities can curtail contractually-required purchases at times when few customers need electricity.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
USA]
Idaho Power has been forced by federal law to add more than 400 megawatts of wind power to its system in the past five years. The investor-owned utility has asked the PUC to reduce the price it must pay, shorten the contract period and even curtail the requirement that the company buy power from existing wind plants when it means turning off cheaper coal plants.
Also filed under [
General]
A federal energy decision raises more questions about whether the utility has the power to shut off existing wind plants even if it saves customers money. Idaho Power officials say they are preparing to appeal a federal ruling that challenges company efforts to shut down wind farms during periods of low demand.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
USA]
Idaho Utility and wind power generators still battling over wind energy curtailment
September 28, 2012 by Marsha W. Johnston in Renewable Energy World
September 28, 2012 by Marsha W. Johnston in Renewable Energy World
Paying too much for renewables was the Idaho Power's primary argument for curtailment, saying that the non-negotiated rates it is required to employ are as much as $65 per MWh, compared to $5 per MWh for hydroelectric. "One of our problems [with renewable energy] in Idaho is low [energy] prices and lack of need.
Also filed under [
USA]
Federal regulator: Idaho Power must buy wind power
September 20, 2012 by Rebecca Boone in Associated Press
September 20, 2012 by Rebecca Boone in Associated Press
Idaho's wind industry has won a major victory over Idaho Power in a ruling from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Associated Press reports. FERC ruled that federal law doesn't allow a utility company to unilaterally curtail electricity purchases during times of light load when it has long-term power purchase agreements in place, like those Idaho Power has with wind-energy producers.
Also filed under [
General]
Idaho energy tussle makes international ripples
August 30, 2012 by Associated Press in Idaho Press-Tribune
August 30, 2012 by Associated Press in Idaho Press-Tribune
Idaho Power, the state's largest utility, wants Idaho regulators' permission to limit electricity output from wind farms like Terna's at times of low demand, arguing it will protect customers from higher costs.
With the matter unresolved, lenders are wary their money is at risk.
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
Zoning/Planning]
Exergy Development Group LLC of Boise failed to pay up to $37.9 million for 32 turbines that were to be transported to Idaho from Pennsylvania, according to the lawsuit filed by a unit of AES Corp. in U.S. District Court in Idaho.
Arlington, VA.-based AES said Exergy signed the contract on May 25 and made an initial, non-refundable deposit of $1.7 million.
Also filed under [
General]
Outgoing legislator calls wind energy production tax a big mistake
August 28, 2012 by Mitch Coffman in Idaho Reporter
August 28, 2012 by Mitch Coffman in Idaho Reporter
“The end consequence, that of increased power rates, is detrimental to Idahoans as a people and our whole economy,” says Christensen. “Our state legislators have only been hearing from one side, those with their hand in the money pot. It’s time for Idaho to look at our own facts and not rely on what is being fed to them by those standing to profit.”
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies]
Wind developer seeks to halt local projects
August 19, 2012 by Nate Poppino in Magic Valley Times-News
August 19, 2012 by Nate Poppino in Magic Valley Times-News
A prominent Idaho wind energy developer has asked to pull out of contracts for projects in Twin Falls and Lincoln counties.
The circumstances of the move by Boise-based Exergy Development Group highlight the ongoing debate over wind and other renewable energy sources in Idaho, and how state regulators should treat them.
Also filed under [
General]
Carkulis said he decided to halt the projects after it became clear Exergy would not get them done by the end of the year, which the company had to do to obtain an up-front payment of a federal investment-tax credit that is due to expire Dec. 31.
Also filed under [
General]
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