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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Possible glitch for energy rebate bill…

Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho senators are raising concerns about the constitutionality of a measure to extend the alternative energy rebate to wind and other alternative energy developers. The House approved the bill, but Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee Chairman Joe Stegner said Friday he's asked for an attorney general's opinion. The problem? This measure extends the tax rebate until 2014, but also puts strict limits on the size of future wind and solar projects that could demand state-mandated rates for their electricity from utilities like Idaho Power Co. Stegner says he fears including these two issues — one tax, the other energy policy — in the bill runs afoul of Idaho's constitutional restrictions that legislation "embrace but one subject." With the 2011 Legislature winding down, that puts this measure's future in question.



Betsy Z. Russell

Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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