Solar power in Idaho

Solar panels

Solar power in Idaho on rooftops can provide 26.4% of all electricity used in Idaho from 4,700 MW of solar panels.[1] The low average cost of electricity makes Idaho one of the last states in the country to reach grid parity.[2] However, in January 2015, there were 461 MW of solar power contracted to be built in Idaho which would give the state more solar capacity per capita than any other state.[3]

Net metering is limited to 25 kW for residential users, and 100 kW for commercial users, other than for Avista Utilities customers, where the limit for all users is 100 kW.

The City of Boise is planning on building a 20 MW solar plant near the Boise Airport, at a cost of $45 million.[4][5][6] A 20 MW solar power plant, Grand View Solar One, in Grand View, Idaho was planned but was not built. Construction of Grand View Solar One was expected to be completed by January 12, 2013.[7] Grand View Solar Two at 80 MW is expected to be completed by September 2016.[3]

Statistics

Source: NREL[8]
Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW)[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
Year Capacity Installed % Change
2009 0.1
2010 0.2 0.2 100%
2011 0.4 <0.1 100%
2012 1.0 0.7 175%
2013 1.8 0.7 64%
2014 2.6 0.8 44%
2015 4.6 2.0 76%

See also

References

  1. Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States
  2. Reaching Grid Parity
  3. 1 2 Solar Power Gains Traction in Idaho, Twin Falls Times-News, January 14, 2015
  4. Boise Solar Plant One Step Closer to Being a Reality
  5. Boise to Build $45 Million Solar Power Plant
  6. As price of solar power drops, Idaho Power Co. looks to expand its portfolio
  7. Idaho's first major solar plant takes shape
  8. "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  9. Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  10. Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  11. Sherwood, Larry (July 2010). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  12. Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  13. Sherwood, Larry (July 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  14. Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2014-09-26.
  15. Idaho Solar
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