Smart Grid: Idaho Stimulus Toolkit - Smart Grid News - Grid Modernization and the Smart Grid

This program provides direct grants to Idaho’s 10 largest cities and 10 largest counties. The remaining local units of government are eligible to apply for competitive subgrants through a program administered by the Idaho Office of Energy Resources (OER). Grant funds are to be used to assist state, local, territorial and Tribal governments in implementing strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions and total energy use and improve energy efficiency in all sectors.
The competitive subgrant program involves a cooperative partnership with the OER, the Idaho Association of Counties (IAC), and the Association of Idaho Cities (AIC). This relationship is designed to reduce duplication of effort and insure an expeditious deployment of the grant program. The IAC and AIC will assist in developing the criteria for the competitive grant program and assist in reviewing applications. All inquiries from city and county applicants regarding the program and eligibility requirements must be directed to the respective association (IAC or AIC). All necessary grant application material related to the subgrant program will be submitted to the IAC or AIC.

State Energy Program

State allocation: $28,572,000

The U.S. DOE SEP is a federally funded energy conservation program that operates within all the states. The Idaho Office of Energy Resources Administrator, in consultation with his staff and the Office of the Governor, drafted a proposal with focal areas. Those focal areas are existing public schools (K-12) energy conservation projects, existing public schools solar PV systems installations and renewable energy financing opportunities (see below). This plan was delivered to Governor Otter in February, 2009. The Idaho Office of Energy Resources has completed a detailed application plan that was submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy on May 12, 2009. The SEP Stimulus Proposal can be found here. This plan is still subject to U.S. DOE approval.

Renewable Enterprise Zones

The Idaho Office of Energy Resources will commit $1,500,000 of ARRA State Energy Program (SEP) funds for the development of renewable enterprise zones. Idaho resources for renewable development include biogas, biomass, wind, geothermal, solar, hydro, and biofuels. The OER will seek proposals from local units of government to create Renewable Energy Enterprise Zones (REEZ). Conceptually, a zone could be located within the boundaries of a single local unit of government or it could cross multiple jurisdictional boundaries. This program is intended to give applicants broad latitude to develop creative approaches in establishing renewable energy enterprise zones.

Under this program a general Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued throughout Idaho for renewable energy resources development projects. Respondents to the RFP must be local units of governments. This requires potential renewable energy developers pursuing this funding to work with cities, counties, local economic development groups and associated governmental officials.

Eligible activities for funding would include marketing plan development to expand the value of the zone, purchase and construction of technology to produce renewable energy within the zone, feasibility studies to develop, sustain, or expand the necessary infrastructure for a renewable energy.

Preference for selection of projects will be given to those applicants who incorporate the following:

·            Collaboration with multiple local units of government

·            Create partnerships for the development and/or management of projects

·            Demonstration of broad local support for the project proposal

·            Leveraging of the proposal through other funding or in-kind services

·            Environmental considerations

·            Creation of new jobs and the retention of existing jobs

·            Potential to develop additional revenue streams or business opportunities through the creation of renewable energy enterprise zone

·            Ability of the project to produce energy within two years of the award

·            Reduction of the use of fossil fuels

·            Opportunities for future research and development

·            Potential for technology transfer

·            Development of renewable energy resources at a scalable level

·            Partnership with educational institutions that can provide assistance with workforce training or additional research opportunities associated with the project

·            Demonstration of the ability to fully fund the construction and operation of the project

IDAHO UTILITIES

Idaho Regulatory Commission

Idaho Regulatory Commission:

Private Companies:

Avista Corp

Idaho Power Co

PacifiCorp

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission does not

have ratemaking authority over the following

covered electric utilities:

Cooperatives:

Inland Power & Light Company

Lower Valley Energy Inc

Municipals:

City of Idaho Falls

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