Idaho Falls Power

Big news as Idaho Falls Power is negotiating a power purchase agreement with Aalo Atomics, a nuclear engineering company pioneering small-scale, factory-built modular reactors for clean energy production. The agreement would give Idaho Falls Power the right to eventually purchase energy from Aalo’s Idaho Falls Project, part of the company’s mission to generate low-cost nuclear energy from reactors small enough to fit in a garage. Aalo’s work is inspired by Idaho National Laboratory's MARVEL reactor, envisioned by Yasir Arafat, Aalo’s Chief Technology Officer. The MARVEL reactor is currently under construction near Idaho Falls at INL’s Transient Reactor Test Facility. Once completed, it will demonstrate microreactor applications at test-scale for the first time in decades. Under the agreement, Aalo would lease land for the life of the project, up to 80 years, at Idaho Falls Power’s new Energy Research Park, where the peaking plant is currently under construction. With design, approval and construction, Aalo’s Idaho Falls Project is not expected to come online before 2030. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gJgB_UMc

On this National #HydroDay, we recognize the critical role water has played in supporting our community’s energy needs since Oct 1900. In addition to Idaho Falls Power owning and operating five of its own hydropower plants, Idaho Falls gets a significant portion of its energy from dozens of hydropower projects across the Columbia and Snake rivers. This hydropower produced in Idaho Falls and the region plays a key role in keeping our energy rates at about ½ of the National average at about 7 cents per kWh. #idahofalls #CommunityPowered #IFPower

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Idaho Falls Power officially broke ground on the new 17.5-megawatt generation facility yesterday. Community members, Idaho Falls Power staff, and local leaders were present at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Idaho Falls Power Peaking Plant and Clean Energy Research Park. The facility will be situated on a 136-acre site north of Idaho Falls. 10 acres of the site will be dedicated to the plant itself, with the remaining land reserved for future expansion, research and development, and a new substation. The plant is designed to provide on-demand energy during periods of high usage in summer and winter, supplying power to approximately 6,000 homes. The peaking plant will utilize natural gas, chosen for its cost-effectiveness and low emissions, to meet the community’s peak energy demands. The Clean Energy Research Park aims to foster collaborative research with organizations such as the Idaho National Laboratory. John Revier from Idaho National Laboratory highlighted the ongoing partnership at the event, stating, “This is a continuation of a long and productive collaboration between Idaho Falls Power, the City of Idaho Falls, and Idaho National Laboratory. Idaho Falls Power is the exclusive electricity provider for INL’s facilities in town, delivering clean, reliable, and affordable power consistently.” The new plant is expected to be completed and online by December 2025. #IFPower #CommunityPowered

The 2024 ICUA Youth Rally was a huge success. Idaho Falls Power recently sent 9 delegates to Nampa, ID for a week of fun, friends, growth, opportunity, connections and memories! It was an absolute joy and pleasure seeing them grow and shine. They are phenomenal kids and are going to make wonderful, influential leaders, adult, and community members. We congratulate Jocelyn Ogden, who was selected to return in 2025 to represent Idaho Falls Power as the Returning Director! She was awarded $600 extra scholarship money for her top-notch character during the Rally. In addition to the $600 and selection as next year’s Returning Director, Jocelyn scored the highest points of all the Idaho delegates who attended this year’s Rally and is headed to Washington DC in Spring 2025 to represent the state of Idaho at the NRECA Youth Rally! Such an exciting and fantastic opportunity and we are so happy and proud that it was an Idaho Falls Power teen that was selected. Congratulations, Jocelyn! We also give heartfelt congratulations to Kamryn Roos and Maggie Moffett who were each awarded $400 and $600 respectively in scholarship money while at the Rally for their outstanding behavior and achievements. Way to go, girls! Finally, a special thanks and a tearful goodbye to Sienna Jensen, who served as the 2024 IFP Returning Director. She did a wonderful job and was such a light and example to everyone throughout the year and especially while at the Rally. It was said she was the “Heart of the Youth Rally.” Sienna was awarded $600 extra scholarship money and voted as Miss Congeniality at last year’s Rally. Because of her selection and service as the 2024 IFP Returning Director, Sienna will receive the Bobbi Wilhelm Memorial Scholarship. Congratulations and best wishes for the future, Sienna! If you have a teen that will be a sophomore or junior this coming school year and you live in Idaho Falls, encourage them to apply to attend next year’s rally! All the kids who come to the Rally absolutely rave it. It is a truly memorable, life-changing experience! Application information can be found on the Idaho Falls Power website. You can also follow the Idaho Falls Power Facebook page for more daily recaps of the Rally and more. #IFPower #CommunityPowered #icuayouthrally

Idaho Falls Power and Fiber staff and Idaho Falls city leadership had the rare opportunity to tour our Gem State hydroelectric plant, which has been recently de-watered for an inspection and maintenance. Each of our plants are on a 5-year schedule to be de-watered and inspected, and it was Gem State's turn this year. Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper and Chief of Staff Margaret Wimborne, Council Member Jim Freeman, Police Chief Bryce Johnson, HR Director Darin Jones, IFP General Manager Bear Prairie and others were in attendance for the tour, which was led by Hydro Mechanic Tyler Bergren. The tour allowed us to see the 18 ft. vertical Kaplan turbine and the wicket gates, which are typically under water. It was dark and damp, but very awesome to see! The "Gem of the State" Gem State hydro-electric plant is the largest of all of Idaho Falls Power's hydro-plants and produces approx. 23 MW. It is nearly as large as all four Idaho Falls hydro project plants combined and was constructed between 1985 and 1988. It began operating on October 22, 1988. For more information about the rich history of Idaho Falls Power, read this fascinating booklet: https://lnkd.in/g5mRQyVn #CommunityPowered #IFPower

Despite the cold and rain, Idaho Falls Power and local 2nd graders had a great time last week at the Idaho Falls Zoo "Steam" days. For two days, 2nd grade classes toured through the zoo and visited various stations where they learned more about science, engineering, art, and innovation. Idaho Falls Power gave the kids an electricity 101 overview and did a hands-on science experiment/demonstration aimed to show and educate the kids about circuits, electrical conductors and insulators. #IFPower #CommunityPowered

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s 2024 Water Festival was a great success! Idaho Falls Power hydro mechanics TJ Benson and Billy Barton took 12 different groups of area 6th graders through our Gem State hydroelectric plant and gave the kids a great overview lesson of hydro-electrical generation. The DEQ Water Festival is held each year in May to teach and show 6th grade students why water is so cool. They do this through fun, hands-on educational activities, crafts, presentations, demonstrations and, of course, touring our Gem State hydroelectric plant. #IFPower #CommunityPowered

From the City of Idaho Falls News Flash: "Idaho Falls Power has been awarded the Diamond Level of Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® National Designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA) for providing reliable and safe electric service. The Diamond Level is the highest level of achievement for a public power utility. The RP3 designation, which is awarded every three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. Idaho Falls Power is one of 2,000 public power utilities in the United States. Less than six percent of public power utilities hold the Diamond designation. “We are honored to continue this tradition of providing affordable and reliable electric service to our community,” said Idaho Falls Power General Manager Bear Prairie. “This recognizes the hard work of a dedicated team, committed to the Idaho Falls community. We remain focused on continuing to identify and implement ways to improve our operations and service to our customers while also focusing on maintaining our low rates.” Idaho Falls Power has maintained an RP3 designation since 2010 and has achieved the top-performing Diamond Level since 2021. “Receiving an RP3 designation is a great honor signifying a utility has demonstrated commitment to industry best practices,” said Jeremy Ash, Chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel and Chief Operating Officer at Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU), Kansas. "And ultimately, the culture developed from this pursuit of excellence and continued improvement through the RP3 program results in measurable value delivered to the local community." The American Public Power Association has offered the RP3 designation for 18 years now. APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 49 million people in nearly 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. APPA advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations.

Today is National Linemen Appreciation Day! It is a special day to express our appreciation to the great men and women that work hard to keep our lights on and our lives running smoothly. Their dedication and bravery, often risking their own safety, do not go unnoticed and it is our honor to recognize and celebrate their hard work and dedication on this day and always. Thank you, Electrical Lineworkers! #thankalineman #IFPower #CommunityPowered