20260714Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO: COMMISSIONER LODGE
COMMISSIONER HAMMOND
COMMISSIONER HARDIE
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM: ERIKA K. MELANSON
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: JULY 14, 2026
SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S APPLICATION FOR
APPROVAL OF A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND AN ENERGY
STORAGE SYSTEM TOLLING AGREEMENT WITH BLUEBIRD SOLAR
PROJECT LLC; CASE NO. IPC-E-26-20.
On June 19, 2026, Idaho Power Company ("Company") applied to the Idaho Public
Utilities Commission ("Commission") requesting (1) approval of the 20-year Power Purchase
Agreement ("PPA") between Bluebird Solar Project LLC ("Bluebird") and the Company
supplying 200 megawatts ("MW") of output from the solar powered generation facility to the
Company, (2) approval of the 20-year Energy Storage System Tolling Agreement ("ESSTA")
between Bluebird and the Company for 100 MW of dispatchable energy storage capacity, and(3)
acknowledgement of the lease accounting necessary to facilitate the transaction and that the
resulting expenses associated with both the PPA and the ESSTA are prudently incurred for
ratemaking purposes ("Application"). The Company requested an order by December 4, 2026.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Commission Staff ("Staff') recommends that the Commission issue a Notice of
Application and Notice of Intervention Deadline establishing a 21-day intervention period.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Application and Notice of Intervention
Deadline establishing a 21-day intervention period?
Erika K. Melanson
Deputy Attorney General
I TegaRELECTRIC\IPC-E-26-20_Bluebird SolarVaemosUCE2620_decl_em.docx
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1