20220505Comment(1)_1.pdf

From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:00:05 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Duane Grant
Submission Time: May 5 2022 11:09AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 707 E 600 N
Rupert, ID 83350
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-22-12
Comment: "5-5-2022 Dear PUC Staff, I am writing to in support of petition IPC-E-22-12, which seeks to allow farmers to be a more meaningful part of the future energy needs of the
State of Idaho. The farm business that I lead, Grant 4-D Farms headquartered in Rupert, ID, installed 26 solar generating sights in 2020-21, 24 of which were the maximum 100 kw size
and 2 of which were 50 kw. The systems have performed as expected, are a rational capital investment that is generating a positive return to our company, and that are creating a hedge
against future energy price increases. Each of these positive attributes helps assure our ability to perform that most essential task of producing food year after year. We stand ready and
willing to add to our solar generating capacity if: - The ill-advised and punitive100 KW cap on generating capacity is lifted. The cap serves little functional purpose in most cases, and simply
serves to embed inefficiency and high relative cost into construction of systems. - We can receive needed visibility of export rate transition from the historic (and grandfathered in the
case of our existing 26 sites) net-metering system to an kWh export-based system. Agriculture-based generation should receive a preferred rate since our sites will offset/feed
energy on the grid in a distributed manner during times of highest demand, thus lessening the requirement for redundant capacity. Since agriculture is an energy-use intensive AND captive
customer (we cannot relocate), we need the ability to mitigate against future electricity cost increases to assure our future viability. Solar does provide that needed mitigation at least in
part. We urge and request the PUC to ensures that the practical and economical contribution that farmers can make to a robust and affordable energy regime in Idaho not be given short
shrift. Please give the issues raised in the IPC-E-22-12 petition your full consideration. Please feel free to contact me at 208-431-0006 if can answer any questions regarding this request.
Best regards, Duane Grant, President Grant 4-D Farms, LLC"
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