BOISE -- State energy officials are teaming with Idaho Power and Amalgamated Sugar Co. to study the viability of a facility capable of generating electricity and the steam required to process sugar beets.
The Idaho Office of Energy Resources announced the project Tuesday.
All three have agreed to cooperate on a study on the benefits of a natural gas-fired heat and power facility at Amalgamated's Nampa processing plant.
Officials say the steam required to process sugar beets is also sufficient to support a power plant capable of generating 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to light 58,000 homes.
Amalgamated is using part of a $350,000 stimulus grant to study the project, which could also reduce the plant's annual air emissions and reduce pollution in the Treasure Valley.
