State should not rush decision on natural gas plant
The utility wants the go-ahead to spend $427 million on the Langley Gulch natural gas plant near New Plymouth. The utility also needs to come up with plans for more than 20 miles of transmission lines to link this remote generating site to urban centers serving the bulk of Idaho Power's 487,000 customers.
Unfortunately, this sales job has the feel of a rush job. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission could decide on Langley Gulch by Sept. 1 - an exceedingly ambitious timetable.
The fast-track approach stems from a new state law designed to speed up plant licensing and financing. The change has united diverse critics. Five groups sought a delay: the Industrial Customers of Idaho Power; the Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association; Northwest and Intermountain Power Producers Coalition, a group of independent producers; and two environmental groups, the Snake River Alliance and the Idaho Conservation League.
The critics raised some good questions. They want to know, for example, whether the continuing recession affects the need for the new plant. They also want to know how a natural gas plant squares with the wishes of Idaho Power shareholders, who passed an unprecedented resolution in May urging the utility to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
The Langley Gulch decision carries huge implications. Ratepayers will be on the hook for a plant that would produce about 300 megawatts, exceeding the capacity of 15 of Idaho Power's 17 hydroelectric plants. By adding a reliable natural gas plant, the utility says it would have the flexibility to also buy power produced, intermittently, at wind farms.
But Langley Gulch would not reduce Idaho Power's reliance on out-of-state coal plants. Instead, it would meet ever-increasing consumer demand.
Hence the urgency. Idaho Power says it needs the plant online by 2012 in order to "generate the supply of electricity crucial to preserving the ability to maintain a favorable business climate that attracts new jobs and businesses." Idaho Power hopes to break ground in 2010; delays could jeopardize its ability to meet energy demand.
But when interest groups all across the spectrum are clamoring for a timeout, that's a red flag. The Public Utilities Commission can - and should - slow this process down.
"Our View" is the editorial position of the Idaho Statesman. It is an unsigned opinion expressing the consensus of the Statesman's editorial board.
