House passes coal plant moratorium

BOISE – The Idaho House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday afternoon for a two-year moratorium on building new coal-fired power plants.

The move was meant to slow down a plan by San Diego, Calif.-based Sempra Energy to build a 600-megawatt plant in southern Idaho’s Jerome County.

The package, sponsored by House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, R-Burley, passed 64-5 and now goes to the Senate.

Newcomb said Idaho needs to take its time before allowing a power plant to be built at the site near the Snake River — especially one that wouldn’t be regulated by the state. The facility would be an independent “merchant” plant, which would sell power to utilities in Idaho and across the Pacific Northwest.

“Take the time, gather the information, and make a wise decision on how we’re going to meet the future needs for growth,” Newcomb said before the vote. “Do what’s right for the people of Idaho.”

Those in favor of the moratorium, including dairy producers in the Twin Falls area that fear air and water quality could be hurt by emissions from a coal-fired power plant, said they want to see more study done on potential effects.

The moratorium doesn’t include other types of power plants, including a coal-gasification plant that’s been proposed for near Pocatello.

Sempra Energy has said a two-year prohibition could be a factor in causing it to look elsewhere to build its proposed $1.4 billion dollar plant. It’s also proposed a $2 billion plant in Gerlach, Nev., that would provide consumers in California with electricity.

In addition to the moratorium, lawmakers also voted 67-1 for a committee to update Idaho’s 1982 energy plan.