Commerce Department steps into solar trade war with China 
POSTED: Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:07 AM PTBY: Lindsey O'Brien
Tags: American Solar Manufacturing, Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. International Trade Commission
The trade war between U.S. solar manufacturers and China continues to blaze, and Jan. 30 the U.S. Department of Commerce stirred up more controversy with its announcement that any duties levied by the U.S. will be charged retroactively.
The SolarWorld-led Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing celebrated the ruling, a response to what Commerce Department called “critical-circumstances” [...]
Avista, trash-to-energy power plant reach short-term deal
POSTED: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 04:32 PM PTBY: Brad Iverson-Long
Tags: Idaho Power, Idaho Public Utilities Commission, Kootenai Electric Cooperative
A northern Idaho landfill power plant that should be up and running by the end of February now has a short-term power purchasing agreement with Avista Energy, the electricity utility that serves that region of the state as well as eastern Washington.
The agreement between Avista and Kootenai Electric Cooperative (KEC), which owns the Fighting Creek [...]
Hells Canyon outfitter expands
POSTED: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 03:14 PM PTBY: Sean Olson
In a market where some estimate more than a 20 percent loss in customers, one river outfitter is in the midst of a dramatic expansion.
Killgore Adventures, which does Hells Canyon jet boat tours, fishing trips and may expand to guide the Lower Salmon river, is relocating to a new four-acre site by the Twin Bridges [...]
Gas drillers, Idaho counties reach agreement
POSTED: Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:41 AM PTBY: The Associated Press
A group representing Idaho counties and a group representing companies interested in tapping natural gas in the state announced an agreement Jan. 29 on legislation they plan to introduce into the Idaho Legislature next month.
The Idaho Association of Counties and the Idaho Petroleum Council said the guidelines will allow counties some control over natural gas [...]
Idaho solar plant faces deadline to pay Idaho Power electric bill for December
POSTED: Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 02:16 PM PTBY: The Associated Press
A struggling southeastern Idaho solar-industry manufacturer has paid its November bill of $1.9 million to Idaho Power Co. and has until Jan. 26 to pay interest on the bill along with its December’s bill, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission says.
The agency tells KIFI-TV that Honolulu-based polysilicon maker Hoku Corp. on Jan. 13 told Commercial Bank of China to wire [...]
Amid dispute with Idaho Power, Hoku gets $10 million
POSTED: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 06:16 PM PTBY: Brad Iverson-Long
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is set to rule on whether Idaho Power can shut off the lights on Hoku Materials’ Pocatello plant, but the solar cell parts company announced Jan. 11 an infusion of $10 million from its Chinese owner that could pay its power bill and other expenses.
Hoku CEO Scott Paul said the [...]
Feds close Lucky Friday mine for a year
POSTED: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 11:47 AM PTBY: Brad Carlson
Federal regulators have closed Lucky Friday Mine in northern Idaho for the rest of the year. Well over 200 employees and contractors will be displaced, Hecla Mining Co. officials said Jan. 11.
The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration has been investigating the mine near Mullan. Two miners were killed in accidents in the past year, [...]
Judge rules against Atlanta Gold in pollution case
POSTED: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 09:44 AM PTBY: The Associated Press
Tags: Atlanta Gold
A federal judge has determined that Atlanta Gold Inc. is legally responsible for high levels of arsenic and iron flowing from an abandoned mine shaft and polluting a tributary of the Boise River system.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Mikel H. Williams on Jan. 9 issued a ruling against the mining company, which has been exploring gold deposits [...]
Low snowpack could increase pressure on reservoirs
POSTED: Monday, January 9, 2012 at 04:38 PM PTBY: Brad Carlson
Idaho will have to rely on water stored in reservoirs to meet demand this year if paltry snow totals persist.
Even though Boise saw some scattered snow flurries on Jan. 10, snow has been scarce this winter and the state’s snowpacks are well below normal, Idaho’s office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reported.
Basins in southern and [...]
N. Idaho meetings set to discuss plan for Panhandle National Forests
POSTED: Monday, January 9, 2012 at 09:39 AM PTBY: The Associated Press
The U.S. Forest Service plans to hold a series of public meetings in northern Idaho to discuss a draft management plan that will guide decisions for the Panhandle National Forests for the next 10 to 15 years.
Forest Supervisor Mary Farnsworth tells The Spokesman-Review that the plan includes a mix of recreational opportunities and timber sales [...]
