Panel sends energy draft to House
BOISE – Conservationists and concerned citizens told lawmakers Tuesday that Idaho’s draft energy plan is a good first step, but many criticized it for excluding state authority over choosing sites for power plants.
Members of the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee unanimously approved the 93-page policy, which recommends the state rely less on cheap hydroelectric and coal-generated power and suggests lawmakers create incentives for using conservation and renewable energy. After nearly two hours of testimony, the lawmakers spent about five minutes debating the merits of the plan – the first update in 25 years.
Lawmakers ordered a two-year moratorium on coal-fire plants and creation of the policy last year in response to public outcry over plans to build a coal plant in Jerome County.
Drafters, including Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, said the plan is a good compromise that doesn’t preclude any sources of energy, including coal or nuclear.
“It doesn’t go as far as several people wanted; it maybe goes farther than some would have liked. But we believe it was important for us to have consensus,” said Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Boise.
But Sun Valley City Councilor Nils Ribi said “maybe consensus is not the way to go, but rather leadership is the way to go.” There is an “inherent problem” with the plan’s recommendation for a state advisory panel to help counties with siting, he said, because it will provide just that – advice.
Leslie Bradshaw, president of Blaine County Citizens for Clean Energy, said the plan “leaves us in exactly the same place as we were” last year.
“Residents of Idaho don’t want coal plants, number one, but more importantly, they don’t want the commissioners of one county determining their fate as it relates to their health and welfare,” she said.
Rep. Clete Edmunson, R-Council, applauded the committee, saying he firmly believes that county commissioners would best know the needs of their constituents when choosing a site for plants.
Bradshaw also called for mandates like those in other states that require a certain percentage of Idaho’s power to come from renewables.
Dave Barneby, of Twin Falls, who worked in the power industry in Arizona and Nevada, said those states experienced problems because they didn’t adequately regulate large plants.
The Idaho plan does not sufficiently address health and safety regulations, he said.
Although the policy leaves questions about implementation, Conservation Voters for Idaho supports the plan because its priorities are correct, Executive Director Lee Flinn said. Lawmakers have introduced several bills related to the plan, such as an incentive for fuel retailers to invest in biofuels.
The plan is a “strong effort” although “it’s unfortunate that you had to begin 20 years behind,” said former Sen. Laird Noh.
He hopes future versions, however, might include a stronger Public Utilities Commission, he said.
Rep. Sharon Block, R-Twin Falls, asked the committee to ban coal-fire plants outright, saying, “There is no such thing as clean coal.”
Committee Chairman Dell Raybould, R-Rexburg, said Republican leadership made it clear that lawmakers will be acting on the plan as written. The committee will convey the public comments to a future interim committee on energy that may look to revise the plan, he said.
Both the House and the Senate must approve the plan for it to become official.