Бойси выделил 50 тысяч долларов на первый в штате проект коммунальной солнечной энергетики

BOISE — Boise’s proposed budget signifies a commitment to the city’s Climate Action Roadmap through a $50,000 investment in solar. As discussed at Tuesday’s Boise City Council meeting, the 2027 budget allocates funds to Boise’s first community solar program. Community solar is when energy generated from solar panels is shared within the local community. “Oftentimes, in Idaho, it feels like there is very little we can do to address the issue of climate change,” said Anise Welty, a member of the Idaho Sierra Club and Idaho Climate Justice League. “But this proposal this year for community solar is one concrete thing we can do.” The Sierra Club has spearheaded the solar initiative as proponents of creative energy solutions. This time last year, members put up a mural along Parkcenter Boulevard to bring attention to community solar. By investing in shared solar, neighbors benefit from reductions in energy costs without having to foot the hefty bill to install panels themselves. Instead, panels will be placed on public buildings and the energy produced will be shared through existing power grids. It is particularly important for low-income residents. “I am so grateful to see the money allocated in this budget for community solar,” Welty said. “It will mean a lot to our community, especially to low-income neighbors and friends.” According to a Sierra Club press release, Boise’s solar array will be located on a city building and will use panels donated by a local solar company, resulting in 20-plus years of lowered power bills for that building. Some of these savings, $5,000 annually, will be donated to the El-Ada Community Action Partnership’s program to help low-income residents pay their power bills. The initiative comes after a 2025 Idaho Power proposal that lowers reimbursement rates for solar energy sold back to the grid. Along with Welty, several members of the Sierra Club spoke in support of the initiative. Member Simeon Novak said they have spoken with residents from a variety of backgrounds and believes that solar would help community needs in an environmentally friendly way. “People are talking, and people are wanting,” Novak said. The city of Boise has committed to utilizing 100% citywide clean electricity by 2035 and this is the first step toward using solar. According to the release, the timing of this commitment also gets ahead of soon-to-expire federal tax credits for large solar projects. The credits are set to expire at the end of 2027 due to President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “We know that this is going to inspire other cities, other towns, that we are already in conversation with to just begin to experiment,” Idaho Sierra Club Director Lisa Young said. The Sierra Club has seen interest in community solar from the city of Moscow, Blaine County and more municipalities. Young said the issue of clean energy isn’t a partisan one and that it resonates with everyone. “We all want to see a greener, cleaner future for our city,” she said. Editor's Note: The spelling of Anise Welty's name was corrected.