Idaho
Idaho Falls Power breaks ground on peaking plant, research park – East Idaho News
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.”
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
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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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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