Engineer to buy St. Anthony hydro-plant
An Idaho Falls engineer submitted the winning bid to purchase a Rocky Mountain Power hydro electric project in St. Anthony.
Ted Sorenson of Sorenson Engineering will repair the 700 kilowatt facility and have it operating within six months.
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission approved a 20-year power purchase agreement that will allow Sorenson to sell the output of the restored plant to Rocky Mountain Power customers beginning about November 30.
The plant has been out of operation since 2002 when a shaft that connects the two turbines failed.
Regulated utilities cannot dispose of generating properties unless authorized by the PUC. The commission agreed with Rocky Mountain Power that the sale of the plant was the least costly option.
