Today, the State Affairs Committee of the Idaho House of Representatives rejected H265, the bill that would impose a two-year moratorium on new wind projects in the state, by a vote of 11-8. Discussions at the hearing suggest that at least some of the bill’s opponents believed the rapid development of wind in the state should be addressed by individual counties, rather than through a statewide moratorium on development. Although it appears that the bill will not make it out of committee, it cannot be considered dead. The bill may yet be rewritten in a process known as “gutting and stuffing” and brought up again this legislative session. For now, though, wind-industry advocates are breathing a sigh of relief.
For more information on H265, see Teresa Hill’s blog from last week.