Relicensing
Welcome
The City of Idaho Falls, Idaho d/b/a Idaho Falls Power (IFP) is the owner, operator, and licensee for of the 24.6-megawatt (MW) Idaho Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2842) and the 22.6-MW Gem State Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2952; Projects). As part of owning and operating these Projects on a public waterway, IFP must be granted a license to operate by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The current licenses for both Projects expire on January 31, 2029 and must be renewed via a regulatory process called relicensing.
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Relicensing Process Overview
IFP has chosen the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) to conduct this relicensing. This is a multi-year, public, federally mandated process that has the goal of obtaining a new operating license for both Projects. As part of FERC’s ILP requirements, IFP must initiate relicensing between July 31, 2023 and December 31, 2023 by filing a Notice of Intent (NOI) to seek a new license, and a Pre-Application Document (PAD) that summarizes the FERC regulatory process, a description of both Projects operations and facilities, the existing environmental resources surrounding both Projects, and a summary of proposed studies to be conducted during relicensing for the purposes of gathering information. FERC will use this information to help inform their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental analysis later in relicensing. Ultimately, these new licenses will outline Project operations and associated environmental resource protection, mitigation, and enhancement management measures for the next 40 years.
Stakeholder Collaboration
FERC requires IFP to collaborate and consult with stakeholders, including federal, state, and local agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Native American tribes, members of the public, and all other interested parties throughout the entire multi-year relicensing process. IFP and stakeholders will work together to address operational, economic, and environmental interests and issues associated with the Projects. IFP’s goal is to receive a new FERC operating license that satisfies the operational needs of both IFP and the local community while continuing to protect and enhance environmental and social resources.
IFP welcomes you to the Idaho Falls and Gem State Relicensing website and hopes that the site serves as a helpful and informative public resource throughout relicensing. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit the Contact Us page.
