Idaho State Profile
Background
Idaho's plentiful geothermal resources have been put to beneficial use for generations, from the time when Native Americans first bathed in natural hot springs, to today's use of thermal waters for a variety of applications such heating, recreation, and electricity generation. Several district-wide heating systems have been constructed in Boise and Twin Falls to provide space heating for government facilities, private businesses, and homes. Wells scattered across southern Idaho deliver geothermal heat to residential and community buildings. The thermal energy needed to support aquatic life for fish farming and aquaculture research is supplied by geothermal resources for about a dozen facilities in Idaho. Commercial greenhouse enterprises in the state also use geothermal fluids to meet their heating requirements. With over 200 hot springs identified throughout central and southern Idaho, the recreational use of geothermal resources is prevalent. Hot spring water can be enjoyed at one of the state's 34 commercial pool or spa developments, or in a more natural setting at one of many undeveloped springs, some of which are in wilderness areas accessible only by hiking. In addition to the direct use of hydrothermal resources currently taking place in Idaho, electrical power production from geothermal energy has been demonstrated at the Raft River site in Cassia County.
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Current Development
The nation's first geothermal district heating system began delivering hot water to Boise residents in 1892. With modern updates to piping and pumping systems, the same community heating line is still in operation today, providing heat to over 200 homes and businesses near Warm Springs Avenue in downtown Boise. A second district heating system installed within the Boise Capitol Mall complex in 1982 supplies space heating for several buildings, including the State Capitol-the nation's only state capitol building that is heated with geothermal energy. Two additional district heating systems operate in Boise, supplying the City Hall building, a Veterans Administration Hospital, and a variety of other municipal, commercial, and residential facilities. Boise's four district-wide systems heat approximately two million square feet throughout the city.
Southeast of Boise in Twin Falls County, three additional geothermal district heating systems have been installed. One system serves twelve buildings and four greenhouses on the College of Southern Idaho campus; a residential subdivision near Buhl has its own system; and another system in the City of Twin Falls heats an elementary school and a community swimming pool.
Furthermore, the direct use of geothermal energy for heating allows for the year-round growth of flowers, vegetables, tropical fish, alligators, and other products within Idaho's commercial greenhouses and aquaculture facilities. The Geothermal Aquaculture Research Facility (GARF) in Boise is a regional center for research and education in marine biology.
Electrical power production from geothermal energy has been successfully demonstrated at a location near the Raft River in Cassia County. The demonstration plant operated for about nine months in the early 1980's with a capacity of seven megawatts. Renewed interest in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy resources has led to the further development at the Raft River site. Construction began in 2006 for the installation of a 10-megawatt power plant that is anticipated to begin operating at the end of 2006. Additional expansion at Raft River is planned to bring the total production capacity to 30 megawatts-enough electricity to power approximately 30,000 typical households.
Potential Development
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In addition to the Raft River project site, two other locations in southeastern Idaho are being investigated for potential electricity generation. The high temperature geothermal resource of the China Cap site in Caribou County has an estimated capacity up 100 megawatts, and power development proposed near Willow Springs has the potential to deliver another 100 megawatts to the Idaho grid. The potential for power production in Idaho has been estimated between 366 and 1,195 MWe (megawatts electric), depending on different development scenarios.
Direct-use applications are also being replicated throughout Idaho, with proposed projects including the installation of additional geothermal greenhouse acreage, the expansion of district heating systems, and the promotion of geothermal heat pumps. The thermal potential for direct use in Idaho has been estimated by the United States Geological Survey at 2,758 MWt (megawatts thermal).
Economic Benefits
Greenhouses and aquaculture facilities in Idaho are able to increase their competitive edge by taking advantage of energy cost savings possible through the use of geothermal energy, and the state's geothermal greenhouses and aquatic hatcheries provide hundreds of jobs, typically in rural areas. A significant cost savings is realized through Idaho's use of geothermal district heating systems. Natural gas costs would total approximately $2 million annually to provide energy for space heating equivalent to the amount supplied by Boise's four district heating systems. Idaho's tourism industry is also enhanced by geothermal springs that draw many visitors annually to towns such as Lava Hot Springs, where the local economic base relies in large part on tourist spending.
Technical Capabilities
The Idaho National Laboratory houses national expertise in the research and development of geothermal energy resources. The laboratory maintains databases of geological characteristics to aid in the characterization and development of geothermal reservoirs nationwide. Additionally, the Energy Division of the Idaho Department of Water Resources provides technical support for geothermal projects in the state and conducts educational outreach activities to promote further geothermal development.
State Incentives
With passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the national Production Tax Credit (PTC) was extended to include geothermal facilities in operation by January 1, 2008. The PTC is an incentive of 1.5¢ per kWh for electricity produced from renewable sources during the first ten years of a new facility's operation.
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) provides financial support to the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana for projects that develop renewable sources for the generation of electricity or thermal energy. Geothermal development projects are eligible for support upon acceptance of proposals from private developers, local governments, or tribal organizations. More information on the BEF grant process can be found at http://www.b-e-f.org/grants/.
Idaho provides individuals with income tax deductions for alternative energy devices installed in their homes. Qualifying devices include renewable energy systems using geothermal resources such as geothermal heat pumps and water source heat pumps. The entire cost (100%) of the residential geothermal energy system can be deducted from the taxable income up to a maximum of $20,000. However, the deduction cannot exceed $5,000 in any one year. Forty percent of the total cost to construct and install the system can be deducted in the year the device was put into service, and 20% for the next three years. Contact http://www.tax.idaho.gov for details.
Passed by the Idaho legislature and signed by the Governor in 2005, HB110 provides sales and use tax rebates for the sale or use of machinery and equipment used in alternative methods of generating electricity. Qualifying facilities include geothermal power generation and must be at least 25 kilowatts in capacity. To qualify for the rebate, the taxpayer and his contractors must pay the sales and use tax on the purchase of machinery and equipment. Visit http://www.legislature.idaho.gov for details.
The Idaho Energy Division administers a low-interest loan program to finance the development of energy conservation or energy generation projects that utilize renewable energy resources, including geothermal systems. These may include geothermal heat pumps and water source heat pumps for residential space heating, geothermal heating systems in greenhouses, or geothermal space heating in commercial buildings. The loans are offered at four percent interest rate and must be repaid in five years. The program provides residential loans from $1,000 to $15,000, and $1,000 to $100,000 for commercial loans. In other sectors, there is no minimum and loans may go up to a maximum of $100,000. Contact http://www.energy.idaho.gov for details.
State Working Groups
Geothermal State Working Groups are networks of individuals typically including geothermal developers, utility representatives, local officials and policymakers, and other energy stakeholders within a given state or region. Such groups are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's GeoPowering the West Initiative and often work in conjunction with the State Energy Office of the group's respective state to conduct networking conferences, analyze regulatory issues, and assess the progress of local geothermal projects.
Idaho has established a Geothermal State Working Group with leadership from the Idaho Energy Division. The Idaho group organizes workshops to promote the increased utilization of the state's geothermal resources. In April 2006, an educational presentation was offered to the public to provide information on geothermal heat pump systems that can be used statewide for climate control in residential and commercial structures.
List of Projects
Details regarding the location and geothermal energy capacity of each project can be found at the Idaho State Geothermal Projects website, http://geoheat.oit.edu/state/id/id.htm, developed by the Oregon Institute of Technology's Geo-Heat Center.
State Contacts
Idaho State Energy Program
Idaho Department of Water Resources
Renee Arellanes
State Energy Program Manager
(208) 287-4890
GeoPowering the West - State Working Group
Gerry Galinato
Idaho Department of Water Resources-Energy Division
(208) 287-4897
Bureau of Land Management
Idaho Office
Idaho Department of Water Resources
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Bonneville Environmental Foundation
National DOE Contacts
U.S. Department of Energy
Curtis Framel
Senior Energy Project Officer
Golden Field Office
Golden, Colorado
(303) 275-4872
U.S. Department of Energy
Sandy Glatt
Senior Energy Project Officer
Central Regional Office
Golden, Colorado
(303) 275-4857