Paul Arrington — Testified on behalf of the Idaho Water Users Association in support of efficiency and streamlining efforts.
Paul Arrington — Paul Arrington, speaking for the Idaho Water Users Association, testifies in support of House Bill 676 and explains that the association has been working with the city for about 18 months to balance geothermal expansion with water-right review.
Paul Arrington — Paul Arrington of the Idaho Water Users Association testified in support of the memorial, explaining that Idaho has multiple tools to address statewide water supply challenges. He noted that earlier legislation has addressed other parts of the solution and emphasized that developing water infrastructure, especially storage, is a key component of the overall strategy.
Julie VanOrden — Called on after the testimony; likely preparing to ask a question or make a motion.
Julie VanOrden — Seeks clarification about the two-thirds board vote requirement before making a motion.
Julie VanOrden — The board vote requirement is confirmed in response to her question.
Julie VanOrden — Addressed during the motion and vote process.
Julie VanOrden — Identified as the second on the motion.
Julie VanOrden — Made the motion to send House Bill 503 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Julie VanOrden — Addressed by Senator Guthrie as the witness being questioned.
Mr. Arrington — Confirms that the local board must approve the change by a two-thirds vote.
Mr. Arrington — Referenced by Senator Guthrie in a joking comment about frequent appearances before the committee.
Mark Harris — Senator Lori Den Hartog introduces herself as the State Senator for District 22 and begins presenting House Bill 737.
Mark Harris — Introduced himself and corrected the bill number to 1303.
Mark Harris — Continues presenting Senate Bill 1303 and explains the need for new generation and transmission.
Mark Harris — Responds that hydro is sustainable and renewable, though there is debate.
Mark Harris — Seconded the motion.
Mark Harris — Called next to present House Bill 503.
Mark Harris — Presented House Bill 503 and explained that it moves the Soil and Water Conservation Commission into the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
Ron Taylor — Indicates he has a comment before the vote.
Ron Taylor — States support for the bill but expresses concern about removing 'conservation' and possible funding impacts on OSG.
Ron Taylor — Asks whether hydro would be included as a sustainable energy source.
Ron Taylor — Seconded the motion on House Bill 676.
Nancy Cheney — Written testimony in the docket opposed the merger.
Aaron Menenberg — Aaron Menenberg introduces himself as the Idaho Policy Manager for Renewable Northwest and testifies in support of the bill on behalf of the organization.
Jim Guthrie — Referenced for including transmission in the discussion.
Jim Guthrie — Asked whether he had closing remarks and declined unless needed.
Jim Guthrie — Seconded the motion.
Jim Guthrie — Senator Guthrie opened the exchange and asked follow-up questions about the geothermal system, focusing on the temperature drop, metering, gallons per minute, possible losses such as evaporation, the overall volume involved, and whether the pumps would need to be upsized to account for those losses.
Jim Guthrie — Moved House Bill 676 to the Senate floor with a recommendation that it do pass.
Jim Guthrie — Senator Guthrie jokes about whether Mr. Arrington gets frequent flyer miles for how often he appears before the committee, and the exchange continues with a remark that Guthrie has shut it down every time.
Kevin Cook — Made the motion to send Senate Bill 1303 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Kevin Cook — Identified himself as Senator Kevin Cook from Legislative District 32.
Kevin Cook — Gave historical background on Boise's geothermal heating system.
Kevin Cook — Responds to the question and begins explaining the reinjection process based on a field trip he took.
Kevin Cook — Describes visiting the geothermal system site and explains where water is pumped out and reinjected.
Kevin Cook — Explains the depth of the geothermal system and confirms the reinjection process is closed loop.
Kevin Cook — Referenced by the witness as having previously described the geothermal system.
Kevin Cook — Referenced as having explained the reinjection depth earlier in the hearing.
Kevin Cook — Referenced in connection with earlier remarks about drilling wells into the geothermal aquifer.
Kevin Cook — Kevin Cook is discussed and then speaks in a continuous hearing segment about the bill’s application and agency review process, confirming his understanding that the Director of the Department of Water Resources handles applications and decisions. The exchange briefly shifts to another comment/question, then concludes with him declining closing remarks. He is also identified as the sponsor/presenter for House Joint Memorial 14 and introduces himself as Senator Kevin Cook from District 32, describing the measure as another water bill.
Doug Okuniewicz — Senator Doug Okuniewicz is identified in the transcript and then asks a series of related questions during the geothermal-energy discussion, first about how the water is reinjected and whether safeguards exist against injecting unwanted substances, and then about how new clients connect to the geothermal system or tap into it themselves.
Doug Okuniewicz — Doug Okuniewicz is referenced in garbled form and then speaks to ask Senator Cook a question before closing remarks, with another garbled mention of his name shortly afterward. The sequence reflects a single brief exchange centered on his participation in the discussion of the bill.
Kathy Grismeyer — Kathy Grismeyer, Director of Policy and Government Affairs for the City of Boise, testifies in support of House Bill 676. She explains that Boise operates the nation’s largest municipal direct-heat geothermal system and is nearing the cap on its current water right, creating a need for a longer-term planning path. She describes how connection to the system depends on location and existing infrastructure, notes discussions with a developer about expansion needs, and says the bill updates the reasonably anticipated future needs statute while preserving protections for non-consumptive use and reinjection. She concludes by thanking committee members for prior conversations and offering to answer questions.
Kathy Grismeyer — Identified herself as representing the City of Boise and confirmed the Department of Water Resources' oversight role.
Ms. Chris Clas — Ms. Chris Clas explained the geothermal system’s monitoring and reinjection process. She said she would defer some technical details to engineers, then described how the system closely tracks water temperature, chemistry, and pressure to ensure no contaminants enter the closed-loop system. She also noted that the water is reinjected deep underground, about 3,300 feet, to bring it closer to the hot rocks.
Bruce Smith — Bruce Smith, speaking for the Boise-Warm Springs Water District, explained that the district’s predecessors drilled the original geothermal wells and that he had already submitted written comments on House Bill 676. He argued that geothermal issues were intentionally left out of the Municipal Water Rights Act because it is a drinking-water statute, and warned that changing the definition would improperly expand the law to cover geothermal use. He also raised concerns that geothermal systems consume heat and that reinjection could affect aquifer conditions over time. Smith concluded by asking the committee to hold the bill and urging caution before advancing it.
Roger Batt — Roger Batt is introduced as the next witness and then begins testifying for the Treasure Valley Water Users Association in support of House Bill 676, discussing the city's outreach and the need for planning.
Ryan McEldrick — Testified in support of House Bill 676 for Conservation Voters for Idaho and emphasized the closed-loop nature of the system.
the gentleman that was just up here before me — Referenced as having testified that temperature monitoring has continued for over 100 years.