HomeMy WebLinkAbout20211230Update.pdfLISA D. NORDSTROM
Lead Counsel
lnordstrom@idahopower.com
December 30, 2021
VIA ELECTRONIC FILING
Jan Noriyuki, Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
11331 W. Chinden Blvd., Bldg 8,
Suite 201-A (83714)
PO Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
Re: Case No. IPC-E-21-17
In the Matter of Idaho Power Company’s Application for Authority to Increase
Its Rate for Electric Service to Recover Costs Associated with the Jim Bridger
Power Plant
Dear Ms. Noriyuki:
On November 17, 2021, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”)
issued Order No. 35222, suspending the procedural schedule and discovery in the above
referenced case in response to a Joint Motion to Suspend Procedural Schedule (“Joint
Motion”) filed October 1, 2021, by Idaho Power Company (“Idaho Power” or “Company”)
and the Commission Staff (“Staff”). The Joint Motion detailed plant operator PacifiCorp’s
efforts towards complying with the Clean Air Act Regional Haze Rules and the resulting
Wyoming Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (“Wyoming SIP”) for Units 1 and 2,
noting that discussions regarding compliance between the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (“EPA”), Wyoming and PacifiCorp were ongoing.
In addition, the Joint Motion noted that in its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”),
PacifiCorp’s IRP preferred portfolio and Action Plan envision the cessation of coal-fired
generation in Units 1 and 2 in 2023 with a natural gas conversion of those units in 2024.
The Joint Motion requested the suspension of discovery and the procedural schedule until
greater clarity concerning Bridger emission limits and possible gas conversion was
achieved. Order No. 35222 suspended the procedural schedule and discovery until the
Company files an update or request to set the procedural schedule once more information
is known, but in no event later than December 31, 2021. Idaho Power is providing an
update at this time.
Similar to PacifiCorp’s 2021 IRP, on December 30, 2021, Idaho Power filed its 2021
IRP with a preferred portfolio that also identifies the cessation of coal-fired generation in
Units 1 and 2 in 2023 with a natural gas conversion of those units in 2024.
RECEIVED
2021 DEC 30 PM 1:19
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
Jan Noriyuki
December 30, 2021
Page 2
With respect to the Wyoming SIP, as of this date, the EPA has not formally acted on
PacifiCorp’s proposed alternative regional haze compliance plan for Bridger Units 1 and 2,
which otherwise would require emission controls to be in place for Unit 2 by December 31,
2021, and for Unit 1 by December 31, 2022. On December 27, 2021, Wyoming Governor
Mark Gordon issued a temporary emergency suspension, extending the compliance date of
Unit 2 through April 30, 2022, while PacifiCorp awaits approval of the Wyoming SIP. The
EPA continues to engage in discussions with the Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality and PacifiCorp regarding options for regional haze compliance of Units 1 and 2.
As a result of the ongoing discussions, and the potential for a near-term resolution of
the issues, with this update Idaho Power requests the Commission continue the current
schedule suspension. The Company commits to convene a conference with all parties to
this case to discuss appropriate next steps, including the reopening of the procedural
schedule, no later than April 30, 2022.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at (208) 388-5825 if you have any questions.
Very truly yours,
Lisa D. Nordstrom
LDN:sg
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE - 1
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that on the 30th day of December 2021, I served a true and
correct copy of Idaho Power Company’s Status Update upon the following named parties
by the method indicated below, and addressed to the following:
Commission Staff
Erick Shaner
Deputy Attorney General
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
11331 W. Chinden Blvd., Bldg No. 8,
Suite 201-A (83714)
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Hand Delivered
U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
FAX
X Email: Erick.shaner@puc.idaho.gov
_____ FTP Site
Industrial Customer of Idaho Power
Peter J. Richardson
RICHARDSON ADAMS, PLLC
515 North 27th Street (83702)
P.O. Box 7218
Boise, Idaho 83707
Hand Delivered
U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
FAX
FTP Site
X Email peter@richardsonadams.com
Dr. Don Reading
6070 Hill Road
Boise, Idaho 83703
Hand Delivered
U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
FAX
X EMAIL dreading@mindspring.com
FTP Site
Idaho Conservation League
Benjamin J. Otto
Idaho Conservation League
710 N. 6th Street
Boise, Idaho 83701
Hand Delivered
U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
FAX
X EMAIL botto@idahoconservation.org
FTP Site
City of Boise
Ed Jewell
150 N. Capitol Blvd.
P.O. Box 500
Boise, Idaho 83701-0500
Hand Delivered
U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
FAX
X EMAIL ejewell@cityofboise.org
boiseCityAttorney@cityofboise.org
FTP Site
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE - 2
Clean Energy Opportunities for Idaho, Inc.
Kelsey Jae
Law for Conscious Leadership
920 N. Clover Dr.,
Boise, Idaho 83703
Hand Delivered
U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
FAX
X EMAIL kelsey@kelseyjae.com
FTP Site
Michael Heckler
Courtney White
Clean Energy Opportunities for Idaho
3778 Plantation River Drive, Suite 102
Boise, ID 83703
Hand Delivered
U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
FAX
X EMAIL
mike@cleanenergyopportunities.com
courtney@cleanenergyopportunities.com
FTP Site
Sierra Club
Rose Monahan
Ana Boyd
2101 Webster Street, Suite 1300
Oakland, CA 94612
Hand Delivered
U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
FAX
X EMAIL rose.monahan@sierraclub.org
ana.boyd@sierraclub.org
FTP Site
Micron Technology, Inc.
Austin Rueschhoff
Thorvald A. Nelson
Austin W. Jensen
Holland & Hart LLP
555 17th Street, Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
Hand Delivered
U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
FAX
X EMAIL darueschhoff@hollandhart.com
tnelson@hollandhart.com
awjensen@hollandhart.com
aclee@hollandhart.com
glgarganoamari@hollandhart.com
FTP Site
Micron Technology, Inc.
Jim Swier
8000 S. Federal Way
Boise, ID 83707
Hand Delivered
U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
FAX
X EMAIL jswier@micron.com
________________________________
Stacy Gust, Regulatory Administrative
Assistant