Idaho Falls Power breaks ground on peaking plant, research park 

IDAHO FALLS — Shovels went into nan ungraded and successful nan aerial aft a celebratory groundbreaking for a powerfulness procreation installation successful Idaho Falls Monday morning.  

People from nan organization came to watch nan groundbreaking and study much astir nan Idaho Falls Power Peaking Plant and Clean Energy Research Park astatine 2017 East Iona Road. Idaho Falls Power is investing $36 cardinal to build nan plant.

“This is nan first awesome installation we person built successful galore decades. The metropolis of Idaho Falls is simply a desirable spot to live,” Mayor Rebecca Casper said. “We are watching that maturation and we are managing our power resources carefully.”

The installation is connected a 136-acre batch adjacent North Yellowstone Highway. Ten acres will beryllium utilized for nan plant, and nan remaining acres will beryllium utilized for imaginable early description , investigation and development, and a early substation. 

Idaho Falls Power will beryllium utilizing earthy state substance for nan peaking plant. It’s not only for its little operating costs but besides its expertise to supply low-emission power to meet nan community’s contiguous needs, nan metropolis said successful a news release. 

“A earthy state peaking works is nan correct exertion astatine nan correct clip for Idaho Falls Power to prevention money for our complaint payers. This works will beryllium nan first c emitting assets nan metropolis has owned,” Casper said. 

Click here to publication a erstwhile communicative astir really nan powerfulness works will effect customers’ monthly bill. 

RELATED | How caller Idaho Falls powerfulness works will effect customers’ monthly bill

The 17.5-megawatt works will supply on-demand power astatine times erstwhile summertime and wintertime power uses scope highest usage periods. The works has capable powerfulness for astir 6,000 homes. 

“The further plans disposable connected this property, not conscionable wherever we are, but each astir nan full parcel, that’s going to go nan Idaho Falls Clean Energy Research Park,” Casper said. 

The parkland will alteration emerging investigation collaboration pinch organizations for illustration nan Idaho National Laboratory, nan metropolis said. 

“This represents a continuation of a very agelong and fruitful business betwixt Idaho Falls Power, nan City of Idaho Falls, and Idaho National Laboratory,” said John Revier pinch Idaho National Laboratory. “Idaho Falls Power is nan sole supplier of energy to INL’s in-town facilities. Idaho Falls Power provides nan laboratory pinch clean, reliable and affordable energy time successful and time out.”

The works is estimated to beryllium vanished and person a ribbon cutting by December 2025. 

Andrea Olson, EastIdahoNews.com