But regulators said Idaho Power is right. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission said Tuesday that the state needs more power-generating capacity to accommodate growth and avoid curtailments. The commission said Idaho Power is pursuing conservation programs -- a demand of opponents. "The public interest is not served by delay," the commission said.
You'll see the plant from I-84. It will be built four miles south of New Plymouth, immediately southwest of Exit 9 in rural Payette County. The plant is scheduled to begin operating in 2012.
You'll pay for it, too. But not right away. The commission promised to let Idaho Power recover its costs from ratepayers eventually. Idaho Power said that promise would make it easier to borrow money at favorable rates for the plant's roughly $400 million cost.
Why natural gas? Global warming. Idaho Power initially planned to increase its generating capacity with coal, but switched to gas amid rising concerns about climate change.
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