[nthompson]

The Idaho legislature is totally dominated by farmers (I mean this literally: The Idaho congressmen are primarily farmers.). These farmers are allowed way better deals on hooking up solar and providing it to the grid than city consumers. In addition, a large number of farmers already have solar panels since grid hookups are very expensive.

The "California arbitrage" has been very profitable for Idaho for many years: This involves selling California renewable hydro, for which they pay a premium, and buying coal from Utah to replace it. (Ever driven north of SLC to Idaho on I-15? Those high voltage transmission lines are there for a reason.)

If I had to bet, I would suspect the lines from the Nevada coal plant also supply California, and Idaho Power will sell the solar production there.

[AlexTWithBeard]

Can you use Utah coal energy to pump water back into reservoir for clean hydro plants?

[floatrock]

"energy laundering"

[kortilla]

Sure, but now you’re just powered by coal with a massive inefficiency in the middle.

[nthompson]

haha they ought to try that.

[philwelch]

Idaho's license plates literally have the phrase "FAMOUS POTATOES".