News Release

January 30, 2007

Energy Policy Institute Survey Reflects Public's Opinion on Recently Released Draft Idaho Energy Plan
Idahoans believe county power plant siting responsibility should be shared with the State; agree with plan regarding more focus on renewable generation and conservation

A survey conducted by the Energy Policy Institute (EPI) shows that more than 69 percent of Idahoans believe decisions regarding the siting of large power plants should be shared between both state and local officials, while only 22 percent said that the decision should remain with local officials either with no state involvement or with only state technical assistance. This reflects a difference of opinion with the Interim Committee on Energy, Environment and Technology’s recently released Draft Idaho Energy Plan. That plan recommends that siting authority should remain a local decision.

The Energy Policy Institute is part of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, which was recently formed between Boise State University, University of Idaho, Idaho State University and the Idaho National Laboratory. EPI conducted the survey as a way to gather public opinion on policies and issues discussed during the creation of the Legislature’s recently released Draft Idaho Energy Plan. Questions included in the survey were developed while EPI’s members attended the committee’s meetings. The survey included responses from 513 adults representing Idahoans at the state and regional levels. The survey has an error rate of about plus or minus 5.6 percent statewide.

While the study does reflect differences of opinion relative to power plant siting, the survey also found areas of general agreement, such as the use of incentives. These include:
• 89 percent of Idahoans agree that incentives should be used to promote renewable electricity generation
• 82 percent feel that incentives should be used to encourage Idahoans to purchase efficient, flexible and alternative fuel vehicles
• 89 percent agree that incentives are appropriate to promote investment in non-traditional natural gas supply resources, such as landfill and feedstock waste
• 90 percent support incentives to promote local production of ethanol and bio-diesel using Idaho-grown crops
• 88 percent would promote a shift toward using alternative fuels for transportation

On policies regarding local issues dealing with transportation, 85 percent of Idahoans concur that local authorization to option taxes for public transportation should be allowed. About 69 percent also agree with the recommendation to encourage land use planning and policies that reduce the amount of driving required by Idahoans.

Idahoans also agreed with the Energy Plan regarding the use of conservation and efficiency targets, with 74 percent of respondents indicating that mandatory or voluntary targets should be set for utilities. If targets are set, 77 percent believe that a combination of penalties and rewards should be used to enforce target achievement (as opposed to the use of penalties alone, at 5 percent, or rewards alone, at 13 percent). However, Idahoans disagree with the interim committee’s recommendation to set renewable energy targets (referred to as renewable portfolio standards). About 84 percent feel that mandatory or voluntary targets should be set for utilities. While the interim committee recommended that standards not be set, about 77 percent of Idahoans feel that if targets are set, a combination of penalties and rewards should be used in target achievement (about 16 percent favored rewards only and 4 percent favored penalties only).

The survey also included several questions discussed during committee meetings but not included in the Draft Energy Plan. When asked about low-income assistance, about 67 percent of Idahoans said that it is important for the State to take action to help low-income residents pay for high winter heating bills. Given the 13-year waiting list for low-income Idahoans to receive weatherization services, about 70 percent of survey respondents felt the State should take action to reduce the waiting list.

John Freemuth, interim director of the Energy Policy Institute, led the study. Other results, such as regional and demographic analyses, are available upon request. To receive a copy of the survey highlights, call Mike Louis at (208) 426-1463 or download the report at: http://ppa.boisestate.edu/ssrc. 
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Contacts: John Freemuth, Interim Director, Energy Policy Institute, (208) 426-3931; Mike Louis, Assistant Director, Energy Policy Institute, (208) 426-2326, michaellouis@boisestate.edu;  Ira Bunch, Survey Data Analyst, Energy Policy Institute, (208) 426-1502, irabunch@boisestate.edu 
Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208) 426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu

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Last reviewed on Tuesday, February 27, 2007