20141027Comments (4 Total).pdf

S IERRA
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‘It-FOUNDED 1392 2i Oi 27 A1 8.5
October 27,2014 LCI3SON
Via Hand Delivery
Honorable Paul Kjellander
Honorable Marsha Smith
Honorable Mack Redford
Ida ho Public Utility Commission
472 West Washington Street
Boise,ID 83702
Re:Idaho Power --Energy Sales Agreement with Grand View Solar &Boise City,IPC-E-14-19 IPC-E-14-20
Dear Commissioners:
The Sierra Club thanks you for the opportunity to submit comments to the Idaho Public Utilities
Commission regarding Idaho Power Company’s Petition to Suspend Solar PURPA Obligations.
Sierra Club is America’s oldest and largest environmental organization.Sierra Club has more than 1.4
million members and supporters nationwide,with 2,000 members in Idaho.Founded in 1892,the Sierra
Club has been working for over a century to protect communities,wild places,and the planet itself.
We believe that climate change is one of the greatest threats facing our communities and the planet,
and consequently,we advocate for a transition away from traditional fossil fuel electricity generation to
renewable energy resources including efficiencies,wind,and solar.Dear Commissioners:
After reviewing Idaho Power’s submissions to the PUC for the Energy Sales Agreements with Grand View
Solar and Boise City,I would like to register my support for these projects.
I support these projects wholeheartedly because they are:
•Good for ratepayers
•Good for the economy
•Good for Idaho Power
•Good for our environment (for us and future generations)
They are good for ratepayers.Idaho is blessed with some of the best solar resources in the United
States,and solar energy is poised,as electronics did,to get better and cheaper.Contrast this with coal,
which will only get scarcer and more expensive.I am thrilled to see Idaho Power incorporating Idaho
generated solar utility-scale power into their resource mix.This will be an opportunity for both Idaho
Power and the Grand View and Boise City providers to learn and to improve future solar projects.
They are good for the economy.These projects will provide an estimated 450 construction jobs for 12
months,after which they will employ maintenance professionals.This will create additional local jobs
and business opportunities in Idaho to support solar workers.Landowners in Elmore County will receive
up to 35 years of payments,and Elmore County will add over $400,000/year to tax receipts.The U.S.
solar industry employment grew 53 percent from 2010 to 2013,per a Solar Foundation 2014 report.
Idaho can and should share in that growth!
They are good for Idaho Power.Idaho Power must find a way to profit in the era of solar,wind,hydro
and energy conservation +demand reduction to meet its power obligations.Coal prices will only rise
due to government regulations internalizing costs that were formerly externalized (i.e.,cleanup),leaving
Idaho Power with stranded costs.This is an opportunity to learn how to do that.
They are good for our environment.Per the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),carbon
dioxide emitted now will continue to disrupt the earth’s climate for hundreds of years after we are
gone.The sooner we stop burning coal,the better.These are the first and largest solar utility-scale
projects to be built in Idaho!The 120 MW generated will power an estimated 30,000 homes and reduce
the need for coal burning.It will also reduce the mercury,hydrocarbons,arsenic,lead and other toxic
heavy metals generated in the process of burning coals,improving the health of Idaho,Nevada and
Wyoming residents.From a Climate Change perspective,this will remove an estimated 150,000 tons of
carbon dioxide per year.For this,we and future Idahoans thank you!
I wholeheartedly encourage you to approve this project.
Sincerely,
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on behalf of our 2,000 members statewide.
Sincerely,
Zack Waterman
Idaho Chapter Director
Sierra Club
Jean Jewell
From:[e-mail]
Sent:Friday,October 24,2014 2:50 PM
To:Beverly Barker;Jean Jewell;Gene Fadness
Cc:[e-mail]
Subject:Case Comment Form:John Schuyler
Name:John Schuyler
Case Number:IPC-E-14-19,IPC-E-14-20
Email:jbschuylergmail.com
Telephone:2O8347944
Address:918 N CALEDONIA PL
EAGLE ID,83616
Name of Utility Company:Idaho Power
Acknowledge public record:True
Comment:I want to voice my support for the approval of both of these solar energy
developments.Idaho needs needs as much new solar as it can get.There is no question that
the state needs new power generation capacity to supply its growing population.
Please vote to approve these projects.
Thank you!
Unique Identifier:75.167.146.126
1
Jean Jewell
From:duch.routt@ positiveenergysolar.com
Sent:Sunday,October 26,2014 11:08 AM
To:Beverly Barker;Jean Jewell;Gene Fadness
Cc:[e-mail]
Subject:Case Comment Form:Duch Routt
Name:Duch Routt
Case Number:IPC-E-14-19
Email:Utich .rocittpositiveenergysolar.corn
Telephone:[phone]
Address:1820 E 3900 N
Buhl Idaho,83316
Name of Utility Company:Idaho Power
Acknowledge public record:True
Comment:Idaho has huge potential to generate its own electricity and be self-independent in
meeting its own energy needs.It is time for Idaho to stop following everyone else 5 yrs
later and start making a difference in this Union.Energy independence is state security.
Unique Identifier:174.28.67.219
1
Jean Jewell
From:[e-mail]
Sent:Monday,October27,2014 8:11 AM
To:Beverly Barker;Jean Jewell;Gene Fadness
Cc:[e-mail]
Subject:Case Comment Form:ELIZABETH RODGERS
Name:ELIZABETH RODGERS
Case Number:IPC-E-14-19,IPC-E-14-20
Email:erodyahoo.com
Telephone:[phone]
Address:2855 N MOUNTAIN RD
BOISE ID -Idaho,83702
Name of Utility Company:Idaho Power
Acknowledge public record:True
Comment:Honorable Paul Kjellander
Honorable Marsha Smith
Honorable Mack Redford
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 West Washington Street
Boise,Idaho 83702
Re:Idaho Power --Energy Sales Agreement with Grand View Solar and Boise City,IPC-E-14-19
and IPC-E
14-20
Dear Commissioners:
Idaho is poised to add its first two utility-scale solar projects:Grand View and Boise City
Solar.I fully support
these two projects because they are:
•Good for the economy
•Good for ratepayers
•Good for Idaho Power
•Good for our environment
They are good for the economy.These projects will provide an estimated 450 construction jobs
for 12 months,
after which they will employ maintenance professionals.This will create additional local
jobs and business
1
opportunities in Idaho to support solar workers.Landowners in Elmore County will receive up
to 35 years of
payments,and Elmore County will add over $400,000/year to tax receipts.
They are good for ratepayers.Idaho is blessed with some of the best solar resources in the
United States,and
solar energy is poised,as electronics did,to get better and cheaper.Contrast this with
coal,which will only get
scarcer and more expensive.I am thrilled to see Idaho Power incorporating Idaho-generated
solar utility-scale
power into their resource mix.
They are good for Idaho Power.Idaho Power must find a way to profit in the era of solar,
wind,hydro and
energy conservation +demand reduction to meet its power obligations.Coal prices will only
rise due to
government regulations internalizing costs that were formerly externalized (i.e.,cleanup),
leaving Idaho Power
with stranded costs.This is an opportunity to learn how to do that.
They are good for our environment.Per the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
carbon dioxide
emitted now will continue to disrupt the earth’s climate for hundreds of years after we are
gone.The sooner
we stop burning coal,the better.These are the first and largest solar utility-scale
projects to be built in Idaho!
The 120 MW generated will power an estimated 30,000 homes and reduce the need for coal
burning.It will
also reduce the mercury,hydrocarbons,arsenic,lead and other toxic heavy metals generated
in the process
of burning coals,improving the health of Idaho,Nevada and Wyoming residents.They will also
remove an
estimated 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
I wholeheartedly encourage you to approve these projects.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Rodgers
Unique Identifier:72.24.248.104
2