Idaho drafting a state energy plan

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jan 2, 2007

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) -- Idaho lawmakers are incorporating alternative and renewable energies into the state's energy plan.

A final draft of the plan, crafted by the Energy, Environment and Technology Interim Committee, is expected to come out within two to three weeks. It's the first state energy plan since 1980.

The plan calls on lawmakers to incorporate energy like biodiesel and ethanol into the state's power sources and to focus on conservation.

Committee members said everyone agreed that the state needed to update its plan with new energy technologies.

"There are some (legislators) that would like it to be more expansive and that sort of thing, but for the most part I think the legislators are in agreement," said Rep. Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert.

The energy plan is used as a guide to making policy decisions for Idaho power companies and the Public Utilities Commission.