IDAHO FALLS — Shovels went into the dirt and in the air after a celebratory groundbreaking for a power generation facility in Idaho Falls Monday morning.
People from the community came to watch the groundbreaking and learn more about the Idaho Falls Power Peaking Plant and Clean Energy Research Park at 2017 East Iona Road. Idaho Falls Power is investing $36 million to build the plant.
“This is the first major facility we have built in many decades. The city of Idaho Falls is a desirable place to live,” Mayor Rebecca Casper said. “We are watching that growth and we are managing our energy resources carefully.”
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The facility is on a 136-acre lot near North Yellowstone Highway. Ten acres will be used for the plant, and the remaining acres will be used for potential future expansion, research and development, and a future substation.
Idaho Falls Power will be using natural gas fuel for the peaking plant. It’s not only for its lower operating cost but also its ability to provide low-emission energy to meet the community’s immediate needs, the city said in a news release.
“A natural gas peaking plant is the right technology at the right time for Idaho Falls Power to save money for our rate payers. This plant will be the first carbon emitting resource the city has owned,” Casper said.
Click here to read a previous story about how the power plant will impact customers’ monthly bill.
RELATED | How new Idaho Falls power plant will impact customers’ monthly bill
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The 17.5-megawatt plant will provide on-demand energy at times when summer and winter energy uses reach peak usage periods. The plant has enough power for roughly 6,000 homes.
“The additional plans available on this property, not just where we are, but all around the whole parcel, that’s going to become the Idaho Falls Clean Energy Research Park,” Casper said.
The park will enable emerging research collaboration with organizations like the Idaho National Laboratory, the city said.
“This represents a continuation of a very long and fruitful partnership between Idaho Falls Power, the City of Idaho Falls, and Idaho National Laboratory,” said John Revier with Idaho National Laboratory. “Idaho Falls Power is the sole provider of electricity to INL’s in-town facilities. Idaho Falls Power provides the lab with clean, reliable and affordable electricity day in and day out.”
The plant is estimated to be finished and have a ribbon cutting by December 2025.
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Andrea Olson, EastIdahoNews.com
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GARDEN CITY – A Boise-area girl is competing in the 2026 Junior Ranger Competition, and she needs your vote to advance.
Eleven-year-old Cali Lindsay of Garden City is currently in the top 10 in her age group. The first place contestant in each group will advance to the semi-finals, which will wrap on July 17.
The final round concludes on July 24. The winner will be awarded $20,000 and be featured on the cover of Ranger Rick Magazine. They’ll also win a trip with Jeff Corwin.
Cali’s mom, Emily Edginton, tells EastIdahoNews.com how the competition works.
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“You’re allowed one free vote every 24 hours. People can also pay (to vote),” Edginton says. “The contestants have challenges every week to learn about animals and share what they’ve learned. People vote for the answer they like best. If you have enough votes, you move to the next round.”
Cali needs to secure enough votes by Thursday in order to advance to the next round.
The competition is a fundraiser for the National Wildlife Federation, the largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization in the United States.
Edginton says they recently moved to Idaho from San Bernardino, California. Her daughter acquired a love of wildlife living in Lytle Creek, a community near the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino National Forest.
“She’s already like a junior ranger. We picked up trash (in the forest) for fun,” Edginton says. “We try to keep it clean because we get a lot of visitors up there in the summertime and they trash the place. It affects the animals.”
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Edginton says they moved to Idaho in February to be closer to family.
She’s grateful her daughter can be part of what she feels is a great cause, and hopes to see her advance, and even win the tournament.
“It’s a good cause, plus it’s a learning experience,” says Edginton.
To vote for Cali or learn more, click here.
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JACKSON, Wyo. — Springtime conjures images of adorable baby animals. Unfortunately, sometimes well-meaning humans feel compelled to interfere with Mother Nature by “rescuing” baby animals who appear to be alone.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) issued a spring reminder discouraging people from intervening when they assume a wild animal is lost, abandoned or orphaned.
“While these folks typically mean well, the sad reality is they are often doing more damage than good when they intervene — and typically, mom was not far away to begin with,” IDFG shared in a press release.
“Here’s the hard truth,” the agency wrote. “Animal parents will periodically leave their young for an extended period of time for a myriad of reasons, whether it’s to search for food, to rest or to divert attention from their vulnerable offspring, especially if they sense danger. When it comes to wildlife babies, wildlife mothers know best.”
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In short, in an encounter with a lone duckling, gosling, deer fawn, baby bird, red dog or moose calf, do not disturb it. Instead, contact the state’s wildlife agency to report it. In Jackson, call the Wyoming Game and Fish Department at (307) 733-2321. In Idaho, reach IDFG at (208) 525-7290.
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