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Idaho First in Nation to Bring New Energy On Line to Address Power Crunch by Staff Idaho Farm Bureau News, June, 2001

With the Memorial Day weekend kicking off a summer of skyrocketing energy demands in the West, Governor Dirk Kempthorne said that Idaho has become the first state in the nation to receive federal approval to bring additional power generation on line by modifying operating requirements at hydroelectric facilities.

The action came in last month's approval by the Federal Energy Regultory Commission (FERC) to approve Idaho Power's request to temporarily increase generation at its Twin Falls and Milner facilities for one year. The state of Idaho filed documents with FERC in support of Idaho Power's request.

Kempthorne said the action will allow for the additional generation of 3.4 megawatts of energy a month -- and amount of energy equal to power 3,400 homes. FERC noted that this additional energy is a "valuable increment of generation at a critical time."

"The states are moving forward to address the nation's energy shortage, and we're doing it in partnership with the federal government," Kempthorne said. "I'm pleased that Idaho is a leader by being the first in the nation to bring new generation on line through this process."

Since the additional generation will mean the utility will not have to purchase as much additional energy on the open market where prices remain extremely high, Kempthorne also noted that the additional energy is expected to save the utility $400,000 per month -- savings he hopes will lessen the pressure for additional rate increases.

In approving Idaho Power's request, FERC said the action could help the region avoid the kind of rolling blackouts that have already been ordered in California six times this year.

"Idaho Power and the Western region face probable power supply shortages this year," FERC stated. "The additional power generated by the proposed temporary curtailment of operating constraints at the Milner Project would help to avoid constraints at the Milner Project would help to avoid conditions requiring Idaho Power and other utlities in the region to resort to emergency load shedding actions such as have been increasingly required in California."

(bluefish adds - The Milner Project historically diverted water for irrigation. A power plant was built at the end of the diversion to generate power when all the irrigation water is used. Recently completed, a powerhouse at the Milner Dam generates power from the 200 cfs minimum stream flow that has been released to support the habitat for sucker and trout. For three weeks this May, this 200 cfs was sent down the diversion to generate electricity at the older powerhouse which is at lower altitude and therefore has greater power potential. As of June 9th, no power is being produced at Milner as all water is being used for irrigation.)