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Idaho energy office disbands wind think-tank

December 24, 2008 /

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At a time when Idaho trails others in harnessing wind resources, the Office of Energy Resources has disbanded the state’s wind-power think tank and reassigned a staff member who had focused on wind projects to work on energy efficiency instead.

The staffer, Gerald Fleischman, told the Idaho Wind Power Working Group he "will no longer be able to respond to requests about wind issues and wind projects," according to a letter obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. Fleischman said the working group was "concluded," with some of its tasks to be assumed by the Idaho Strategic Energy Alliance, a panel created by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter to plan for the state’s energy needs.

Energy office director Paul Kjellander said he made the changes to better coordinate renewable energy development, including biogas from dairies, solar and geothermal, under Otter’s new alliance.

By JOHN MILLER

Full Story: http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2008/12/24/ap-state-id/d958roso1.txt