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Showing posts from May, 2018

Solar Power in Idaho: Challenges and Possibilities

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With all of the news in recent months about solar panel tariffs and changes to how Idaho Power charges solar users, people might understandably wonder if solar Boise power is a viable option. Despite any current difficulties or complications, solar power should stay on the rise both in Idaho and across America. Solar Power in the US Back in January 2018, President Trump imposed a 30% tariff on imported solar panel components. At the time, some worried that this would cripple the industry. NPR noted that while some domestic manufacturers believed that the tariff would help them compete, workers who focused on solar panel installation felt “that making imported solar components more costly will likely dampen demand for solar panels.” However, the negative impact of the tariff has apparently not been as great as people feared. In April, Bloomberg contributor Brian Eckhouse reported that new solar industry jobs might actually go up in 2018. Not only that, the number of s

Idaho Solar Power and Energy Management: A Bright Future?

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Twin Falls solar power or Boise solar power may not strike everyone in Idaho as an altogether plausible concept. However, it is much more real possibility than you might think. Not everyone may realize it, but much of the Gem State’s power already comes from renewable energy. According to the US Energy Information Administration, renewable energy typically accounts for more than 75% of Idaho’s net electricity generation. Much of that comes from hydroelectric sources—Idaho Power currently operates 17 plants located on the Snake River and its tributaries. With this in mind, solar power in Boise or Meridian might seem less ridiculous. And soon, its benefits might be even more apparent. On May 9, 2018, the Idaho Public Utility Commission ruled that the 2,000 Idaho Power customers who generate their own electricity—most of whom are solar power customers—would be separated into a new class. The PUC also ruled that Idaho Power would study the costs and benefits of these custome