Idaho

November 13, 2009

(BOISE) – Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter launched a new Web site today on which Idaho citizens can easily view details of the State budget and provide their insights and perspectives on how to make State government more efficient by using taxpayers’ money more wisely.

The site, http://efficiency.idaho.gov/, is part of Governor Otter’s plan for involving all Idahoans in the process of addressing the State’s budget shortfall. He announced the outreach plan in late September as he ordered a tiered holdback of State spending totaling about 4 percent of the General Fund appropriation for fiscal 2010.    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that Idaho will receive financial support for several significant industrial energy efficiency projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the Idaho Office of Energy Resources (OER) a $350,000 Industrial Technologies grant to help make energy efficiency improvements at several industrial facilities. The recipients include projects at several Simplot plants and the Amalgamated Sugar Company in Nampa. Both companies contributed matching funds to leverage the DOE grants.    » read more »

Funding for Idaho, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota and the U.S. Virgin Islands to create jobs, reduce energy use

October 1, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that nearly $72 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to 7 states and territories to support energy efficiency and conservation activities.

Under DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, these states will implement programs that lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs locally.    » read more »

Energy And Climate Change High Priorities

June 16, 2009 -- PARK CITY, UTAH -- Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana, newly elected chairman of the Western Governors’ Association, said energy and climate change will continue to be top priorities for the association over the next year.

Schweitzer officially took over as chair today at the close of the WGA Annual Meeting here. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter of Idaho is the new vice chairman.

“Western states are at the very center of our country’s energy future, and Western governors will take the lead in building the bridge to a new energy economy,” Schweitzer said.    » read more »

June 15, 2009 -- PARK CITY, UTAH -- Western Governors and three Cabinet Secretaries agreed today to partner in enhancing state wildlife data systems that would greatly improve the decision-making process as renewable and fossil energy resources are planned and transmission lines and highways are considered. The data systems would also provide valuable information related to the impact of climate change on wildlife.    » read more »

June 14, 2009 -- PARK CITY, UTAH -- The Western Governors’ Association and U.S. Department of Energy signed a Memorandum of Agreement today that will enhance the safety and security of transporting nuclear waste from sites within and outside the Western region to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico.

The agreement was signed during the WGA’s Annual Meeting here by Gov. Brian Schweitzer, WGA’s new chairman; C.L. “Butch” Otter, incoming Vice Chairman; and Steven Chu, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. It expands upon current efforts aimed at ensuring the safe and uneventful transportation of nuclear materials.    » read more »

NRDC Joins Legal Action to Challenge the Department of Interior's Decision to Remove Northern Rocky Mountain Wolves From Endangered Species List

LIVINGSTON, Mont. (June 2, 2009) – Another chapter in the legal battle over wolves was opened today when the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and a coalition of concerned conservation groups challenged the recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to remove protections for packs in Montana and Idaho.    » read more »

President rescinds budget cuts to Pacific Coastal Recovery Fund

June 1, 2009 -- Washington, DC. – Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have successfully convinced the Obama Administration to restore $50 million in funding to restore Northwest salmon. The President and his staff responded to requests from Crapo, Risch and others in the Pacific Northwest to an original Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposal that would have zeroed out the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Program.    » read more »

Senators pleased that Idaho plan stays intact

May 28, 2009 -- Boise, ID – Idaho Senator Jim Risch says he is pleased that a new U.S. Forest Service directive on roadless areas will exclude Idaho. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that no road construction or timber removal will take place on National Forests under the Roadless Area Conservation Rule without approval from the Secretary for one year.    » read more »

Emmett water dedication, Lake Lowell boating also on agenda

May 28, 2009 -- Boise – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will discuss energy-related issues, such as renewable energy, water and endangered salmon plans, during a speech to the NW Energy Coalition on Friday.

Crapo, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Ranking Member on the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, has been a part of hearings involving issues such as species recovery and climate change. He convened a salmon and water summit in 2003, bringing Northwest participants to the Idaho Statehouse for several days of talks.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of Idaho's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

May 22, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that $165 million is now available for Idaho under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts.

Idaho will be eligible to apply for another $81 million this fall. Today's funding is being made available per Idaho's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.    » read more »

Crapo co-sponsors legislation to increase funding share

May 22, 2009 -- Washington, DC—Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) and Jon Tester (D-Montana) are taking steps to improve how money is distributed to rural transit systems across the country. The Senators have introduced the Rural Transit Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2009 to increase rural, elderly, and disabled transit funding in rural states like Idaho, Montana and South Dakota. Crapo, a member of the Senate Banking Committee with jurisdiction over public transit issues, is the lead Republican sponsor of the bill.    » read more »

Crapo says Idaho agriculture could reap benefits

May 20, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Idaho agriculture could benefit from better trade opportunities with Cuba under legislation introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and a large bipartisan group of co-sponsors in the Senate.

Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, joined with Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) to introduce the Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009.    » read more »

Committee Also Approves Black Carbon Study and Wildlife Conservation Measures

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Water and Wildlife Subcommittee Chairman, along with EPW Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-OK), and subcommittee ranking member Mike Crapo (R-ID), last week applauded Committee passage of The Water Infrastructure Financing Act, which provides the foundation for our nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.    » read more »

May 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC. – Following months of consultations involving Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Idaho Army National Guard personnel, and Congressional and Guard representatives from other states, the U.S. Army has agreed on an upgrade of the Apache helicopter fleet stationed at Boise’s Gowen Field.

The decision means Idaho will receive new AH-64D Apache Longbows, the Army’s top attack helicopter and a major improvement in equipment and training for the 1-183rd Aviation Battalion of Army Guardsmen and other employees stationed and training at Gowen Field.    » read more »