Idaho
Idaho Falls breaks ground for new power plant – Local News 8
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (Idaho Falls News Release) — City officials representing Idaho Falls Power broke ground Monday morning on the city’s latest power generation facility and clean energy research park, continuing the utility’s long history of ensuring reliable and affordable energy.
The $36 million investment in the 17.5 MW Natural Gas Peaking Plant will provide on-demand energy at times when summer and winter energy usage are at their highest. The more electricity used to heat or cool homes during peak periods leaves the utility short on generating capacity.
“This groundbreaking is more than just the beginning of a construction project,” said Idaho Falls Power General Manager Bear Prairie. “One of Idaho Falls Power’s core missions is to provide reliable power at affordable rates. This peaking plant doubles the local generation capacity in the winter, meaning more stability in energy prices because we will be relying less on buying electricity from neighboring utilities.”
Idaho Falls Power currently operates five hydroelectric generation facilities on the Snake River that today produce only about a third of the city’s energy needs due to growing customer demand. Since Idaho Falls Power last constructed a hydroelectric facility in the late 1980s, the city has experienced tremendous population growth, including substantial commercial sector growth.
As Idaho Falls has invested in its own energy production, residential customers currently pay around 7 cents per kilowatt hour, which is half the national average of 14 cents per kilowatt hour.
Idaho Falls Power will be using natural gas fuel for the peaking plant not only for its lower operating cost, but also for its ability to provide low-emission energy to meet the community’s immediate needs. The plant has been designed to minimize the release of emissions resulting from natural gas by using the best available emission reduction technology. In addition, the generators will also be able to burn hydrogen, thus enabling future testing and research.
“Idaho Falls has always been a leader in meeting the area’s energy needs in innovative ways,” said Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper. “The city is grateful to be home to Idaho National Laboratory, and having this extra space will provide more opportunities for research and will continue Idaho Falls’ proud tradition of being at the forefront of our world’s energy production.”
The plant will be near the intersection of East Iona Road and North Yellowstone Highway. The location was selected based on its industrial zoning, proximity to rail service, natural gas access, and the utility’s transmission and distribution system. Construction of the plant is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025
BLACKFOOT — A large contingent of Blackfoot Police officers has cordoned off an area near the Taco Bell on Parkway Drive in Blackfoot.
Police responded around 5 p.m., according to multiple witnesses who contacted EastIdahoNews.com.
EastIdahoNews.com has reached out to Blackfoot Police for details.
We will update this story as we learn more.
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MISSOULA, Mont. — An Idaho Falls angler is back in the Idaho record books after landing a record-setting lake trout at Payette Lake.
Idaho Fish and Game said Dylan Smith caught and released a 43.25-inch lake trout on May 2, setting a new state catch-and-release record for the species. The fish surpassed the previous record of 42 inches.
The catch marks Smith’s second appearance in Idaho’s record books. He previously held the state catch-and-release lake trout record after landing a trophy fish in 2018 before that mark was later broken.
According to Fish and Game, Payette Lake has become one of Idaho’s premier lake trout fisheries thanks to years of management efforts aimed at improving both lake trout and kokanee populations.
Pride Month looks different this June along Boise’s Harrison Boulevard, where a long-standing tradition of hanging Pride flags on lamp posts has been put on hold after a new state law restricted which flags can be flown on government property.
For several years, Pride flags lined lamp posts along Harrison Boulevard in Boise’s North End neighborhood. But Idaho House Bill 561, signed by Gov. Brad Little in March, restricts which flags can be flown on government property, including the City of Boise’s Harrison lamp posts.
In response, a group of neighbors formed Pride North End and launched a distribution effort to help residents show support from their own front yards. The group has been making Pride flags and yard signs available to people who want to display them at home.
“I thought that I would…be a personal example of ‘yes, this is what I do.’ This is what I believe in,” said Edna Schochat, a North End resident.
Pride North End has already distributed more than 900-yard signs and 250 flags. The group’s original donation goal was around $2,000 to order 100 flags and 200 yard signs, but it has exceeded that GoFundMe goal, reaching $10,000 worth of donations.
The group plans to continue holding public flag and sign distributions through the end of the month.
“We cannot just say something without doing something that proves that we mean what we say,” Schochat said.
Pride North End said any leftover funds after materials are distributed will go to local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. A link to the group’s GoFundMe can be found here.
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