Idahoans Weary of Wind Power
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A new poll by the Idaho Statesman shows Idaho consumers are not so enthusiastic about wind energy if it means higher monthly power bills. The newspaper also reported that (http://bit.ly/XkA3ZA ) a majority of respondents have a favorable attitude toward Idaho Power Co. — the state's biggest utility — and the state agency charged with regulating the industry. The poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research surveyed 625 people last week who said they were likely to vote in the Nov. 6 General Election. The poll had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4 percentage points. Idaho Power has been forced by federal law to add more than 400 megawatts of wind power to its system in the past five years. The utility claims wind energy increases annual costs.