20220512Comments(6)_6.pdf

From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Wednesday, May 11, 2022 3:00:10 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: James Van Dinter
Submission Time: May 11 2022 2:17PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 12088 W Tidewater Dr
Boise, ID 83713
Name of Utility Company: Consumer
Case ID: IPC-E-21-40
Comment: "My name is James Van Dinter and I am an Idaho Power customer living in Boise, ID. I am a homeowner with solar and an electric vehicle. I have lived in Boise for over 40
years. I want Idaho Power to work with community groups to create a community owned solar program in which customers can subscribe to solar arrays that are not owned or controlled by
the utility. "
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From:Michael Engle
To:Jan Noriyuki; Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Portneuf Resource Council comments on Case Number IPC-E-21-41
Date:Wednesday, May 11, 2022 5:03:41 PM
Dear Ms. Noriyuki,
The attached pdf and included as text in this email, are the comments from the Portneuf
Resource Council regarding IPC-E-21-40.
Thank you for the opportunity to input on this important case before the Idaho PUC.
Sincerely,Mike Engle
Chair, Portneuf Resource Council208 284 3825
May 11, 2022
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commission,
This letter is concerning Idaho Power’s (IPC) application to expand optional customer clean energyofferings, case number IPC-E-21-40. The Portneuf Resource Council (PRC) is a non-profit organizationin Southeast Idaho that promotes clean energy and clean water. PRC represents more than threehundred citizens in southeast Idaho who are interested in or already have powered their homes orbusinesses with solar power.
We acknowledge Idaho Power’s commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2045 and appreciate in
the most recent Integrated Resource Plan, IPC’s modeling to pull that 100% date back to 2035.
Further we commend IPC’s plan to offer clean energy options to customers who may not have the
means or ability to add onsite clean energy generation and in general support the concept of Clean
Energy Your Way.
PRC has several comments and suggestions related to the Clean Energy Your Way. This programshould be accessible to all Idahoans including small municipalities, rural farms and businesses, andfamilies of low to moderate income. Provisions in the pricing structure needs to include options thatallow low to moderate income people to participate in clean energy without having to pay apremium. In addition to a variable pricing structure based on means, adding additional levels ofsubscription will give more options to those wanting to participate in clean energy. In addition to50% and 100% of anticipated monthly bill, add 25% and 75% for more options and flexibility.
PRC recommends the IPUC and IPC consider how to expand the program (increase the number of
planned generation facilities) to allow a wider range of participants including municipalities, large
and small businesses, rural farms and ranches, home owners, and renters. There will be a great deal
of interest as many entities and individuals are interested in participating in the ongoing migration to
clean energy.
While not specific to this Case #, PRC urges IPUC and IPC to move towards allowing third parties tobuild, own and manage large scale solar arrays. This would give Idahoans a choice to participate inCommunity Solar projects that are not necessarily Utility owned. There are a lot of good reasons inthe literature for enabling third-party Community Solar. One of the roadblocks in Idaho that IPUC canaddress is the limited 2 year power purchase agreement rule. This effectively kills any investmentopportunities when return on investment cannot be determined for large scale solar projects.
Thank-you for your consideration of these points regarding the proposed Clean Energy Your Way
program.
Mike Engle
Chair, Portneuf Resource Council
208 284 3825

The Idaho Organization of Resource Councils
910 Main Street, Suite #316, Boise, ID 83702
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.IORCinfo.org

Comments: Case #IPC-E-21-40

May 11, 2022

Idaho Organization of Resource Councils
910 W. Main Street, Suite 316
Boise, ID 83702
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074

Re: Case #IPC-E-21-40, Idaho Power Company’s Application to Expand Optional
Customer Clean Energy Offerings Through the Clean Energy Your Way Program

Dear Commissioners:

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments regarding case #IPC-E-21-40, Idaho Power
Company’s Application to Expand Optional Customer Clean Energy Offerings Through the Clean
Energy Your Way Program. We welcome the opportunity to offer public comment.

The Idaho Organization of Resource Councils is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit organization based in
Boise, Idaho with two local chapters representing members in Bannock and Canyon County, Idaho. Our
mission is to empower people to improve the well-being of their communities, sustain family farms and
ranches, transform local food systems, promote clean energy, and advocate for responsible stewardship
of Idaho’s natural resources.

PUC Authority
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has the authority under Idaho Code § 61-501 to regulate public
utility companies in the state of Idaho.

Application Background
On December 2, 2021, Idaho Power Company applied to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission for
authority to amend its Green Power Purchase Program to implement customer subscription and
customer construction options under a new program called Clean Energy Your Way.

Discussion
We commend Idaho Power Company for taking a leading role in transitioning Idaho to 100% clean and
renewable energy and expanding customer options for utility-supplied clean power. By offering
additional clean energy options, the Clean Energy Your Way program will result in more solar and wind
power being brought online in the coming years if the program is a success. A win for Idaho’s people
and environment.

RECEIVED
Thursday, May 12, 2022 2:34:06 PM
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
The Idaho Organization of Resource Councils
910 Main Street, Suite #316, Boise, ID 83702
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.IORCinfo.org

Comments: Case #IPC-E-21-40

By expanding the Clean Energy Your Way program to include community-owned options, Idaho Power
Company can create another path to more clean and renewable energy, while helping meet its goal of
providing 100% clean energy by the year 2045. Community-owned power generation programs have
been successful across the country and provide some important advantages to the utility-controlled
model proposed in the Clean Energy Your Way.

Community solar can provide cost savings for transmission and distribution, increased reliability for
customers because of improved energy distribution, and economic benefits for the local communities
they are built to serve.

The Idaho Public Utility Commission’s discretionary approval of the Clean Energy Your Way program
should include direction for Idaho Power Company to create community solar options in addition to the
utility-controlled customer subscription option. This would allow third-parties to build and operate
community solar installations in and near the communities they serve.

Affordability & Low-Income Customers
Idaho power learned from the Community Solar Pilot Program “that the primary factors leading to lack
of interest were high premium cost compared to regular rates.” Many low and middle-income Idahoans
simply do not have the option to pay more on their monthly utility bills to receive clean energy. With
continued economic strain from the pandemic, high consumer price inflation, and a possible recession
looming, affordability is a key factor that will lead to the customer adoption of the Clean Energy Your
Way program.

Thank you again for the opportunity to provide comments on this issue. If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at 208-991-4451 or [e-mail].

Sincerely,
Doug Paddock
Lead Organizer
Idaho Organization of Resource Councils

CC: Lisa D. Nordstrom, Idaho Power Company
Alison Williams, Idaho Power Company
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Thursday, May 12, 2022 4:00:06 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Edwina Allen
Submission Time: May 12 2022 3:25PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 2972 E Parkcenter Blvd Apt 513
Boise, ID 83716
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-21-40
Comment: "As a homeowner in Boise, I was pleased to install rooftop solar. As a person who recently moved to an apartment, I appreciate that folks who don’t own a home or have a
suitable roof should also be able to participate in generating local solar power. Community ownership of local solar generation facilities provides that opportunity. I ask Idaho Power to
work with community groups to develop a real community owned solar program. Community ownership provides opportunity for local investment, local profits, and local jobs. Electricity
generated locally and distributed locally does not incur transmission costs, thus saving electricity costs to the overall system. As we deal with the reality of climate change, smaller,
distributed electricity generation pods will give us a more resilient power grid than one that relies on a few huge power plants with extensive transmission lines. Thank you for this
opportunity to comment. "
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From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Thursday, May 12, 2022 7:00:13 AM
The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Renee Mullen
Submission Time: May 11 2022 7:31PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 1902 N. 11th St
Boise, ID 83702
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-21-40
Comment: "My name is Renée Mullen and my husband Bob Moseley and I are Idaho Powercustomers living in Boise, Idaho. I am a retired professor of Environmental Science and
Biology. Bob Moseley is also newly retired, having worked for Idaho Fish and Game for 11years and then for the global conservation organization, The Nature Conservancy, for 21
years. We are writing this letter together. We were recently informed of Idaho Power’s plan todevelop solar power as a form of energy to sell to Idahoans. While that is admirable in that it
would help to combat climate change and begin to get us off of our fossil fuel addiction – aswell as begin (maybe) to make bringing down the destructive Snake River dams a real
possibility, a more just and democratic way to do achieve these goals and to empower Idahocommunities would be to invest in community solar. We respectfully request that the PUC
support Idaho Power to work with community groups to create a community owned solarprogram in which customers can subscribe to solar arrays that are not owned or controlled by
the utility. As mentioned above, community owned solar is beneficial because it increasesclean energy and keeps the financial benefits of that clean energy within the communities
where the solar energy is located. It also promotes resiliency of the grid through distributedgeneration and it empowers communities. We care about these issues because we are deeply
concerned about and invested in the future of Idaho, the US, and indeed, the world. Too manypeople have been harmed by private power companies – only to have profits born of that harm
go to the already wealthy shareholders of private power companies. It is time to truly supportALL communities in health and opportunity, not just the wealthy ones. Thank you for your
consideration, Renée B. Mullen and Robert Kenneth Moseley "
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Name: Scott M RunkelSubmission Time: May 11 2022 7:36PM
Email: [e-mail]: 208-721-1737
Address: 1610 NORTHRIDGE DRHAILEY, ID 83333-8663
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-21-40
Comment: "Thank you for your efforts to provide clean energy to Idaho. I am writing to
encourage you to make community owned solar an option to help idahoans play a greater role in the transition to clean electricity. Living in a community that has set a goal for a 2035 clean
electric grid, community solar is a solution that we would like to take advantage of yet Idaho Power rules make it impossible. Please change the rules to allow for community solar so
citizens can play a greater role in their electricity generation. Thank you, Scott"
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