Idaho Briefs October 26, 2011

Officials in process of rewriting 5-year energy plan

BOISE - Idaho officials are in the process of rewriting the state's five-year energy plan in a way that balances the needs of consumers, utilities and businesses.

Idaho's first energy plan was written in 2007 and was used to guide policy on renewable energy, efficiency and serve as a basis for a moratorium on coal-fired power plants.

Now, an interim legislative committee is working on an update. The Idaho Statesman reports the panel has started with a draft developed by Gov. Butch Otter's advisory group, the Strategic Energy Alliance.

The committee will also take testimony next week at public hearings.

Consumer groups are looking for an energy advocate, while utilities hope the state can focus on helping them supply power. Business groups want the policy to encourage economic development.

Twin Falls County to challenge

redistricting plan

TWIN FALLS - Twin Falls County is expected to file a legal challenge contesting the redrawing of Idaho's political boundaries.

County Prosecutor Grant Loebs told the Times-News on Tuesday that local government officials plan to file a challenge with the Idaho Supreme Court over the redistricting maps drawn up earlier this month.

The plan laying out Idaho's 35 legislative districts has been a sore spot for some Twin Falls County officials, who fear it weakens their influence.

The map splits the county into three legislative districts.

The city of Twin Falls would be in its own district, while the rural parts of the county would be split into two other districts that will be grouped with Elmore and Owyhee counties to the west, and Cassia and Power counties to the east.

$23M 'Gear Up' grant to help

low-income students

BOISE - Idaho has been awarded a $23 million federal grant to help low-income students attend college as part of the U.S. Department of Education's "Gear Up" program.

The state Department of Education says the money will be used to serve about 6,000 students across Idaho, targeting middle schools where at least 50 percent of the pupil population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna says his agency's aim is to ensure that every student who graduates from an Idaho high school is ready to continue their education and will not need remediation once in college.

Luna says the "Gear Up" program has proven successful in helping move Idaho closer to that goal.

- The Associated Press