Bill > H0387

This bill establishes comprehensive regulations for wind energy development decommissioning in Idaho, requiring wind turbine site owners to submit a cash deposit to the state treasurer before construction begins to ensure proper site restoration. The deposit amount will be determined by a state-licensed engineer's assessment of the anticipated costs of fully removing all wind turbine infrastructure, including subsurface materials, buildings, cables, electrical components, and roads, and returning the land to its original grade and productivity. If an owner fails to submit the required deposit, they can be fined up to $2,500 per wind turbine site per day. The bill defines key terms like "decommission" and "wind turbine site" and creates a new wind energy fund in the state treasury to hold these deposits. The legislation applies to all wind turbine sites in Idaho, regardless of land ownership, and includes provisions for transferring ownership, inspecting decommissioning efforts, and allowing the state to use the deposit to complete decommissioning if the owner does not properly restore the site. The bill declares an emergency, meaning it will go into effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

State Affairs Committee (H)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/H0387/