Repower Idaho Last updated: August 13, 2009

Did you know?

• Idaho's energy efficiency programs save enough electricity to power almost 12,000 homes for a whole year, save more than $9 million in energy costs, and prevent the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking over 11,000 cars off the road. Although great progress, the state still has much more potential to increase its energy efficiency.
• Ridgeline Energy’s 450 megawatt, Goshen South wind farm in Bingham County will produce enough electricity to power more than 92,000 homes in Idaho! The project will also stimulate the local economy, requiring more than 200 construction workers and generating more than $24 million in tax revenue.
• Governor Otter stated Idaho is committed to increasing its energy independence by increasing renewable energy use to 25 percent by 2025.

Click here to submit clean energy news happening in your state.

Clean energy jobs in Idaho

Although Idaho already generates 84% of its electricity from hydroelectric power, the state can still utilize other abundant, clean energy resources for its electricity generation. Currently, four geothermal plants with a combined capacity of 280-megawatts are under development, increasing the state’s existing 13-megawatt capacity. And the expansion of Idaho’s wind development is on the horizon, guaranteeing both an additional source of renewable energy and economic benefit for the state.

Nordic Windpower, for example, is building its new turbine manufacturing facility in Pocatello, which will create 160 jobs for the area. Investing $690 million in Idaho's clean energy economy could create nearly 9,000 jobs in the state.

Sources: Center for American Progress (CAP) and Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), The Economic Benefits of Investing in Clean Energy, (June. 2009)

Featured story

Jeff B. of Boise is the Director of Business Development at Renewable Energy Resources, a company that specializes in providing solar, wind, and geothermal energy systems to residential and commercial customers. Jeff is involved in a broad range of activities, from sales and marketing to project management. Recently Jeff has been working on a major wind farm in Northern Idaho and an urban solar farm in Boise, as well as working to build political and popular support for renewable energy in Idaho. Jeff feels that working in the clean energy industry has changed his life---helping him to better understand "how important it is to rethink how we live and how we produce and use energy."

Click here if you'd like to share a story about your clean energy job.