Idaho Power Planning Speedy Coal Exits, More Clean Energy
Posted on February 2, 2022 by Sudeshna Pal
Tags, Energy
Idaho Power is planning to expand its clean energy resources while speeding up retirements of its existing coal resources. This move is a major shift in the company’s vision of its future resource mix. The plan includes substantial solar, wind, and battery storage resources. Idaho Power customers should see long-term savings on their electric bills if the company procures these resources.
Idaho Power primarily serves customers in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Recently, it has been a leader in the region’s clean energy efforts. The utility aims to serve its customers with 100 percent emissions-free energy by 2045.
The utility presented its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to regulators in December 2021. Electric utilities are required to file these plans every two years. It describes a set of resources, called the “preferred portfolio”, that the utility believes will best serve its customers over the next 20 years.
The company currently generates 3,477 MW of electricity to serve more than 590,000 customers. Idaho Power’s new preferred portfolio includes 700 MW of wind, 1,405 MW of solar, and 1,685 MW of battery storage resources.
Idaho Power has projected savings for its customers as a result of the increase in wind and solar resources. Unlike natural gas and coal, renewable resources have no fuel cost. Customers should be able to realize the benefits of this transition through lower electricity bills.
Thanks to CUB’s advocacy, the preferred portfolio also includes customer-facing solutions including 100 MW of new demand response and 12 MW of new energy efficiency resources. Demand response programs compensate customers for shifting their energy usage. Both solutions help customers save energy at home, thereby lowering bill costs.
The utility also advanced its plan to exit from all coal resources by two years, from 2030 to 2028. There is no new natural gas plant in the preferred portfolio. However, the utility plans to convert two of its coal plants, Jim Bridger Units 1 and 2, to natural gas fired units by 2024 before it eventually exits them in 2034.
To accommodate the new wind and solar resources, Idaho Power would also need robust transmission to reliably serve its customers. The utility has recently acquired additional ownership rights for the Boardman to Hemingway transmission line and is looking into other transmission resources.
CUB appreciates Idaho Power’s efforts in embracing clean energy. While this is a welcome move, CUB will continue to engage in the planning process to ensure Idaho Power provides the best possible value to its Oregon customers.
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02/02/22 | 0 Comments | Idaho Power Planning Speedy Coal Exits, More Clean Energy