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Idaho Power gets OK for 'Peaker' Plant by United Press International Earthtimes.org, December 20, 2006

BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 20 Idaho regulators have allowed the Idaho Power Co. to build a natural gas plant intended to fill the gap during high electricity demand.

The Idaho Statesman reports the Idaho Public Utilities Commission authorized the build Friday.

The $60 million, 170 megawatt plant will be built near Mountain Home, Idaho, and used for what's called a peaker plant. Peakers are relied on when peak summer demand is pushed by air conditioners and irrigation pumps and forces utilities to cover their demand with an idle unit instead of purchasing it from the more expensive wholesale spot market.

The state requires PUC authorization before utilities can build a plant.

The unit was part of Idaho Power's plan to provide service to customers through 2014 and will be online by 2008.