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Lawmakers, utility experts, INL leaders to discuss Idaho energy policy

March 11, 2009 /

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The Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) and Idaho Office of Energy Resources are sponsoring the first Energy Policy Institute (EPI) Summit March 12-13 at Boise State University to discuss how to meet the state’s energy needs.

Experts from around the region will address the current and future energy challenges facing Idaho. The lineup includes state legislators, a member of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission and the president of Rocky Mountain Power.

Idaho National Laboratory http://www.inl.gov Director John Grossenbacher is the keynote speaker and will kick off the discussions, which are open to the public.

On Friday, researchers from CAES and its partner institutions — Idaho National Laboratory, Boise State University, Idaho State University and University of Idaho — will identify and develop research projects to address those energy challenges.

“Our goal is to get a public conversation going about energy in Idaho,” said John Freemuth, EPI interim director. “These speakers will help us get a sense of the energy issues we are facing in the state. That, in turn, will help the scientists decide where to focus their research efforts and identify potential funding sources.”

The Energy Policy Institute is part of CAES, a partnership between INL and the state through its three research universities — Boise State University, Idaho State University and University of Idaho. EPI is comprised of policy researchers and educators from all four CAES institutions.

EPI’s mission is to conduct research and educate the public about its findings, not advocate for specific industries or energy sources.

“We’re analysts, not advocates,” Freemuth said. “We really feel like we have a public mission so this summit really seemed like a natural fit. We want to have a dialog with the public about what Idaho’s energy needs are.”

To view the full lineup of speakers and find out more about the first Energy Policy Institute Summit, visit http://www.boisestate.edu/energypolicyinstitute.