http://www.idahopress.com/news/?id=29870
By John O’Connell Idaho State Journal 2/8/2010
POCATELLO — Idaho Power's new plan for meeting anticipated customer energy needs for the next two decades shows the utility's energy portfolio will grow increasingly diverse with a heightened emphasis on renewable sources.
Idaho Power filed its integrated resource plan for 2009 with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission in December.
Wind energy is slated to become an increasingly substantial energy source for Idaho Power. Spokeswoman Stephanie McCurdy said the utility put out a request for proposals in May seeking 150 megawatts of wind power generation.
Now, Idaho Power has 192 megawatts of wind capacity in its system, and by 2012, McCurdy said the company expects to have more than 600 megawatts of wind power.
To ensure a stable power source at times when wind power wanes, Idaho Power plans to build a natural gas combined cycle combustion turbine capable of producing 300 megawatts of power, called the Langley Gulch plant, in Payette County. Construction on the project is scheduled to start this August, and the plant should be on line by July 2012.
Idaho Power's plan also calls for 40 megawatts of geothermal power — about 20 megawatts of that total are part of a contract that's awaiting approval by the IPUC. . .
