About the Project

Located in Elmore County along Simco Road between Mountain Home and Boise, the Peregrine Energy Center will be home to a variety of energy resources and other electrical equipment that will help Idaho Power meet growing customer needs. The initial proposal at the Peregrine Energy Center includes a new natural gas power plant. The simple-cycle gas plant would occupy approximately 10 acres of the 160-acre property, with opportunity for the addition of a second gas plant. The project also includes a 10-acre substation. The power plant will connect to existing transmission lines.

As we plan for the future, this site offers the opportunity to support other types of generation resources as our region’s energy needs evolve.

Purpose and Need

Idaho Power is seeing unprecedented growth in energy demand driven by all types of customers, including new homes, small businesses, and major industries. Over the next 20 years, demand across our service area is expected to grow by nearly 45%, with more than half of that growth coming in the next five years.

The Peregrine Energy Center supports Idaho Power’s “all of the above” strategy to serve growing demand. That approach calls for high-voltage transmission lines and energy storage investments, as well as generation resources that include wind, solar, and natural gas — all with the goal of meeting our customers’ growing energy needs safely, reliably, and affordably.

Benefits

• Reliable and Affordable – Provides dependable power at a lower cost compared to other energy sources.
• Meets Customer Needs – Quickly adjusts to changing demand to serve homes, businesses, and farms across our communities.
• Manages Costs – Building near existing transmission lines keeps project and customer costs down.
• Local Economic Benefits – Construction will bring skilled workers to the area and support local businesses, while adding permanent jobs to operate the plant.

Timeline and Current Status

Any new large generation resources require regulatory oversight of the procurement process and approvals from both the Idaho and Oregon regulatory commissions, as well as local permits. Idaho Power submitted its application for a Certification of Public Convenience and Necessity to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission in March. That application is still under review. Additionally, we received the required local permits from Elmore County in spring 2026.

• 2025 – Idaho Power purchased the property and began public engagement and outreach to the community and started the local permitting process.
• 2026 – Site engineering and design was conducted along with continued permitting.
• 2027-2028 – Begin construction of Phase 1 power plant and substation.
• 2029 – Evaluation and design of a potential Phase 2 power plant.
• 2030 – Phase 1 power plant come in-service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why this location?

The site is near existing infrastructure, making it more cost-effective to build and operate than other potential sites.

Is the project safe?

We have safely operated natural gas facilities in Elmore County for 25 years and Payette County for 15 years without incident. The plant would be maintained and operated by skilled Idaho Power employees who live and work in the area.

Will this affect air quality?

The new gas plant would comply with all state and national air quality standards. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) would review and issue an air quality Permit-to-Construct before the plant begins operating. 

Will there be noise?

Although the final plant design is still being developed, Idaho Power will use a combination of noise-reduction measures to keep sound levels reasonable.

How much water will the plant use?

We are analyzing the various cooling technologies that can be utilized for a gas turbine and are mindful about selecting a technology that considers the water constraints in Mountain Home and Elmore County. We are designing the facility to be highly efficient and minimize impacts by using water responsibly and managing it resourcefully.

Where will the power from the Peregrine Energy Center go?

The energy generated at the proposed Peregrine Energy Center would serve Idaho Power customers in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Idaho Power is currently a net importer of energy, meaning we purchase power from other states to meet customer demand. Peregrine will help us increase our supply of locally generated energy and reduce our reliance on outside markets

Questions?

Contact Idaho Power project manager, Andrew Downing at adowning@idahopower.com.