Future Resource Planning
Idaho Falls Power's goal is to provide low-cost, reliable electricity that meets current and future energy and sustainability needs. The utility is committed to effective and responsible resource use and environmental practices that maximize social and economic development to lay the foundation for future generations to thrive.
Currently, IFP predominately uses hydropower – through our own generation and from purchased power from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) – to serve utility customers. Our five hydropower plants operated along the Snake River typically provide one-third of our City's energy needs, depending upon the season and consumer demands. IFP also has preference rights and an agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration to purchase power from federal dams located on the Columbia River, Lower Snake River, and a nuclear plant located in Hanford, Washington. This power purchase agreement expires in 2028. It is subject to renewal, which comes with additional uncertainty on cost and supply. The BPA contract supplies between one-half to two thirds of our energy needs. The remainder of our power comes from wholesale market purchases and a small portion of wind generation near Ririe Reservoir in Eastern Idaho.
This resource mix has served our needs well. But, the energy landscape is changing, creating unprecedented fluctuations in energy market costs and availability due to a number of variables, including western coal plant retirements, surrounding state energy policy changes, and overall customer growth. The city has experienced significant growth in the last five years. The result is load growth for the utility which requires more energy, predominantly during peak summer and winter periods of the year.
To best serve and provide for the needs of our customers and our community while maintaining our overall goals and objectives, IFP continually looks at and explores additional energy resources to best plan for current and future energy needs.
The Idaho Falls Peak Generation Plant and Clean Energy Research Park
The Idaho Falls City Council approved a resolution on February 24, 2022, to begin exploration of a Peaking Generation Plant and Clean Energy Research Park located on currently owned utility land.
The proposed project is designed to generate up to 12 megawatts (MW) of long duration if needed (up to 16 hours daily), affordable, reliable, and dispatchable (on demand) energy to Idaho Falls Power. The plant will be used specifically to generate in peak periods to offset the need for Idaho Falls Power to acquire wholesale market power when power prices are highest. While Idaho Falls Power has internal hydroelectric resources and receives a large portion of the energy requirements from the Bonneville Power Administration through out preference rights out of the Columbia and Lower Snake River hydro resources, our load growth has exceeded resources during the winter heating season in the early morning and late evening along with during the summer cooling season after 5 PM when solar generation in the western grid fades.
Idaho Falls Power is committed to forward looking clean emissions energy resources, thus the generation plant will be built to accommodate future development and upgrades to emerging but not yet commercial clean energy technologies. This park will also enable potential partners, such as the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and industry partners in collaboration with IFP to demonstrate the scalability of emerging non-emitting clean energy technologies. The goal is to use future research to help transition between traditional fuels to emerging net-zero technologies at utility scale and operation
Why use natural gas?
Natural gas is a reliable, low cost, low emission energy supply that meets the immediate needs of the utility. It also enables testing and research for a smooth transition from carbon intensive generation to low carbon generation as clean technology becomes more feasible and economical. The future proposal is to switch the peaking plant to run on clean fuels, such as biofuels and hydrogen as those fuels become economically viable. Idaho Falls Power views natural gas as a bridge to serve current needs while even cleaner generation resources are developed.
What is the purpose of the research complex?
Idaho Falls Power is committed to serving our community with reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy. We’re also committed to foster the development and use of energy resources that limit greenhouse emissions. The City continues to adopt policies and initiatives facilitating effective management and conservation of resources.
The research park is designed to foster partnerships to help advance clean energy technology that meets the utility’s economic, reliability, scalability goals.
As an example, the INL anticipates creating marketable hydrogen that could supplant natural gas as the fuel resource and could potentially be co-located at the research park.
Where will this gas peaking plant be located?
Idaho Falls Power purchased a 160-acre lot near the intersection of East Iona Road and the North Yellowstone Highway. The location was selected based on its zoning, proximity to rail service, natural gas access, and IFP’s transmission and distribution system.
The land is also sizeable to conduct the research and testing necessary for the development of new technologies that will develop the grid of the future.
Where is the project at now?
Idaho Falls Power has solicited proposals in a Request for Proposal (RFP) in October. Three respondents submitted proposals and are in the process of review. Idaho Falls Power staff will make a recommendation to City Council who could make a decision as early as December 2023
