ID H0387

Wind turbine owners must submit a cash decommissioning deposit to the state treasurer before construction begins on any wind turbine site in Idaho, covering the reasonably anticipated cost of full site removal and land reclamation.

A state-licensed engineer with wind turbine removal experience must inspect each site and prepare a cost report, which the Idaho Department of Lands reviews within 30 days; owners pay for the inspection and any independent assessment if costs are disputed.

Decommissioning requires removal of all turbine components, buildings, cabling, electrical equipment, and roads (unless landowner requests otherwise), plus restoration of land to previous grade, quality, and productivity.

Owners who fail to submit the required deposit face administrative penalties up to $2,500 per turbine site per day; failure to properly decommission results in deposit forfeiture, with the state authorized to complete decommissioning and recover costs from the owner.

Creates a wind energy fund in the state treasury to hold deposits and penalties, with interest going to the state general fund; the law takes effect immediately upon passage as emergency legislation.