Senate Majority Caucus Room
Statehouse--4:15 p.m.
January 22, 2004
Room 412
The meeting was called to order by Cochairman Representative Eskridge at 4:15 p.m. Other
members present were Cochairman Senator Hill, Senator Stegner, Senator Noh, Senator Stennett
and Representative Bell, Representative Stevenson and Representative Smylie. Senator
Sorensen and Representative Cuddy were absent and excused.
Other persons present were Russell Westerberg, PacificCorp; Rich Hahn, Idaho Power; Russ
Hendricks, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation; Leon Duce, Association of Idaho Cities; Neil
Colwell, Avista Corp; Greg Hahn, Idaho Statesman and Julie Pence Twin Falls Times News.
Staff present was Mike Nugent.
On a motion by Representative Bell, seconded by Senator Noh the minutes of the January 15,
2004, meeting were approved as printed.
Representative Eskridge directed everyone to draft legislation regarding operating property. The
revised language would read "On or after January 1, 2004, any newly installed or constructed
equipment located within a city corporate limit or within five miles of a city corporate limit and
used for and in conjunction with the thermal generation of electricity shall be apportioned based
on physical location. For purposes of this subsection newly installed or constructed equipment
used for an in conjunction with the thermal generation of electricity shall not include the
remodeling, retrofitting, rehabilitation, refurbishing or modification of an existing electrical
generation facility, or integration or transformation facilities such as substations or transmission
lines." It was the consensus to take this language to a germane committee for introduction as
legislation.
Senator Hill made a unanimous consent request that, regarding the legislation dealing with an
income tax credit for alternative energy equipment generating electricity, the income tax credit
be limited to the income tax liability of the taxpayer and delete language regarding a percentage
of net income. The motion carried unanimously.
Regarding the definition of low impact hydro in both the investment tax credit legislation and the
production tax legislation, it was suggested by Senator Stennett that language be revised to allow
a person owning the low impact hydro device and having it located on a private canal or
reservoir be able to receive the credit as well as if the canal is owned or controlled by a canal
company or irrigation district. The Chair asked for unanimous consent and unanimous
consent was given.
Senator Noh and Representative Smylie both opined that a fairly thorough fiscal estimate needed to be given on both pieces before they be recommended for introduction. The Committee agreed. The Committee's next meeting will be on February 2nd at 4:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.