Solar panel field set to move into southeast Idaho
For the first time, ever, southeast Idaho will be implementing a large-scale solar panel field which will help generate revenue for the community.
The 120-acre field is set to move in and be up and running to the Pocatello Regional Airport by the end of next December, where it will be situated just north of the airport near the runway strip.
City planning and development department head Lon Crowell said that area is land that cannot be developed.
“We’re excited about it,” Crowell said. “For us, it’s a big deal so it’s an exciting time for the community, it’s good for us, and good for the airport…it’s property that’s unavailable or difficult to develop but we we can actually have something there.”
So the best option to maximize land you can’t develop – make money off of it.
“There’s an opportunity for some pretty good revenue for the city so it’s a win-win in both directions,” Crowell added.
This is just one out of 11 solar panel projects across the state that Idaho Power has contracted to purchase from private developers.
According to the contract, the developers will split the revenue 50-50 with Idaho Power, and a percentage of revenue will also go to the city for land use.
Idaho Power representative Brad Bowlin said this doesn’t mean your power bill will go down, but it’s still a good thing.
“One of the misconceptions out there is that folks think a solar plant will reduce electricity rates, but that’s not necessarily the case,” Bowlin said. “We are obligated to pay the developers what we call an avoided cost for that energy.”
Meaning, Idaho Power will need to pay the same amount they would pay if they were to produce the power through their own natural gas plant.
Bowlin also said the price will fluctuate, depending on the light or heavy load period. He said the heaviest demand is during the hot summer months, so this means solar energy will generate more power during these heavy-demand times, which saves energy in the end.
He said the only drawbacks come when there are storms or overcast days and there is then a need for a backup energy source.
The 20-year contract shows the Pocatello solar panel plant will generate roughly 20 megawatts, and the 11 other projects combined will generate 281 megawatts of energy.
Click here to see the contract details.
Story tonight at 6 o’clock on Local News 8 and 5:30 on KIDK Eyewitness News 3.
