States findings of the Legislature and supports advancement of state energy sovereignty.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 32
BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION	1
STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND SUPPORTING ADVANCEMENT OF STATE EN-	2
ERGY SOVEREIGNTY.	3
Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:	4
WHEREAS, Idaho participates in interstate energy markets and benefits	5
at times from cost-effective imported power, particularly during seasonal	6
fluctuations, and at other times from being able to sell excess power to	7
neighboring states, with financial benefits directly benefiting Idaho cus-	8
tomers; and	9
WHEREAS, Idaho is a net energy importer, and as such, long-term energy	10
security, ratepayer protection, and state sovereignty require that imported	11
energy supplement, but not replace, secure in-state base load generation	12
that is capable of sustaining Idaho's residential, agricultural, commer-	13
cial, industrial, and mining-related energy demand under all seasonal and	14
water conditions; and	15
WHEREAS, Idaho's economy and workforce, including its national labo-	16
ratory, agricultural producers, mining operations, advanced manufacturing	17
facilities, and rural communities, depend on affordable and reliable energy	18
that is responsibly developed and selected by electric utilities to meet the	19
needs of Idahoans in a least-cost and least-risk manner; and	20
WHEREAS, the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer is a critical ground wa-	21
ter resource supporting Idaho agriculture, rural communities, and economic	22
stability, and its protection is a matter of statewide importance; and	23
WHEREAS, the Idaho Legislature has formally expressed opposition to the	24
Lava Ridge project, citing documented concerns regarding impacts to agri-	25
culture, the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer, aviation safety, wildlife	26
habitat, and Idaho's natural landscapes; and	27
WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that transmission infrastructure con-	28
structed that does not benefit Idaho utility customers and does materially	29
harm agriculture, critical water resources, or rural communities is incon-	30
sistent with the expressed policy position of the State of Idaho; and	31
WHEREAS, Idaho's long-term reliability and grid stability require se-	32
cure, dispatchable base load generation capable of continuous output inde-	33
pendent of weather variability, including advanced and conventional nuclear	34
energy technologies, hydroelectric plants, and natural gas generation; and	35
WHEREAS, Idahoans rely on affordable, dependable energy from respon-	36
sibly developed natural gas generation that provides flexible, on-demand	37
power and supports energy security through locally owned and operated re-	38
sources; and	39
WHEREAS, all major transmission infrastructure projects that mate-	40
rially affect Idaho ratepayers must demonstrate a clear, measurable, and	41
durable net benefit to Idaho ratepayers, measured by reduced long-term cost	42
exposure, strengthened in-state energy security, and tangible benefits to	43

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Idaho's in-state energy and economic interests, before approval or cost al-	1
location is permitted at the state level.	2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-	3
sion of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and	4
the Senate concurring therein, that the Legislature of the State of Idaho	5
formally acknowledges that transmission projects built in Idaho must demon-	6
strate a clear, measurable, and durable net benefit to Idaho ratepayers as	7
demonstrated by utility-integrated resource plans.	8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the standards expressed in this Resolution	9
are intended by the Legislature to guide state-level permitting, siting re-	10
view, and any cost recovery proceedings before the Idaho Public Utilities	11
Commission, which ensures that Idaho ratepayers are not required to subsi-	12
dize infrastructure that does not benefit Idaho utility customers or is in-	13
consistent with Idaho's base load reliability priorities.	14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature affirms that private prop-	15
erty rights, local land use authority, and the protection of agricultural	16
and rural communities are paramount considerations in the siting and review	17
of any major transmission infrastructure within the State of Idaho, and that	18
the use of eminent domain should be strictly limited to the purposes allow-	19
able under Idaho law.	20
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the advancement	21
of responsibly developed conventional and advanced nuclear technologies,	22
hydroelectric generation, geothermal, and natural gas generation as the	23
proper foundation for Idaho's future energy system and as the preferred	24
means of providing secure base load energy for Idaho citizens and indus-	25
tries, including the necessary major transmission resources to move energy	26
from its generation source to Idaho citizens.	27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages Idaho-regulated	28
public utilities to continue to review and analyze utility participation in	29
any interstate energy market to ensure participation in such markets does	30
not conflict with Idaho's commitment to reliable, dispatchable base load	31
generation, ratepayer protection, private property rights, and state energy	32
sovereignty.	33
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to	34
the Governor of the State of Idaho, members of the Idaho Public Utilities	35
Commission, Idaho-regulated electric utilities, and Idaho's congressional	36
delegation.	37

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