Renewable Energy Project Bond Program

Summary

Legislation enacted in Idaho in April 2005 (Senate Bill 1192) allows independent (non-utility) developers of renewable energy projects in the state to request financing from the Idaho Energy Resources Authority (IERA), a state bonding authority created in March 2005 by the Environment, Energy and Technology Energy Resources Authority Act (House Bill 106). The authority was created to finance the construction of electric generation and transmission projects by electric utilities. SB 1192 extended the financing opportunities to independent renewable energy producers that are not "qualifying facilities" under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA).

For the purposes of this program, renewable energy is defined as "a source of energy that occurs naturally, is regenerated naturally or uses as a fuel source, a waste product or byproduct from a manufacturing process including, but not limited to, open or closed-loop biomass, fuel cells, geothermal energy, waste heat, cogeneration, solar energy, water power and wind."

SB 1024 of 2015 also extended IERA's authority to finance conservation measures for the Bonneville Power Authority. Such measures may include upgrades to system efficiency, waste heat recovery, or consumer programs for weatherization.