Sustainable Idaho

In this episode of Sustainable Idaho, Holly Wilson speaks with Nathan Murray, Economic & Community Development Advisor, from Idaho Power, about how the state is working to meet rising energy needs while reducing environmental impact.

Idaho’s rapid growth brings new challenges in managing resources and planning for the future. In this episode of Sustainable Idaho, host Holly Wilson speaks with Dr. Karl Geisler, a regional economist, professor of economics, and chair of the Department of Economics and Finance at Idaho State University, as well as director of the Center for Economic Research and Quantitative Analysis.

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Nelda and Clif Swiggett about their original jazz concert, For The Birds. As an artistic expression of beauty, loss, hope, and action, the audience is engaged in a blend of live music, spoken words, poetry, and images. While her first climate concert, The Alaska Suite: a story of beauty, loss and hope, focused on the Arctic, Nelda has used birds as her messenger this time. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology states that nearly three billion birds have disappeared since 1970. In fact, the North America bird population has decreased by 2.9 billion breeding adults in every biome. The Swiggettes’ For the Birds concert tour will include 15 free performances across the United States. More details are available here: https://neldaswiggett.com/for-the-birds/.

In this episode, Holly Wilson, Sustainable Idaho host, speaks with Chris Taylor, the landfill gas plant operator for Bannock County about how the Fort Hall Mine Landfill captures methane and turns it into electricity. Since 2014, the gas-to-energy system has reduced emissions, powered hundreds of homes, and generated over $8.5 million in energy revenue for the county. A simple idea with a powerful impact turning landfill gases into usable energy right here in Southeast Idaho. To learn more visit: https://www.bannockcounty.gov/landfill/

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Mireille Chahine, a professor and extension dairy specialist in the Department of Animal Vet and Food Science at the University of Idaho. This is the second episode in a two-part series discussing the sustainability initiatives behind the University of Idaho research facility, the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (CAFE). Chahine is excited for the dairy’s start, as she hopes “to build a center that can answer questions and provide relevant solutions to our state.”

What do Idaho’s salmon have to do with hungry orcas hundreds of miles away and how could decisions made decades ago be still shaping that outcome today? In this episode of Sustainable Idaho, host Holly Wilson sits down with filmmaker Scott Levy, Executive Producer of The Snake and the Whale, to explore the powerful connection between Snake River dams, declining salmon populations, and the survival of the southern resident orcas. This conversation offers a preview of the story behind the film which highlights the environmental, economic, and human dimensions of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most complex issues. If this episode sparks your curiosity, the film takes it even further.

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Mireille Chahine, a professor and extension dairy specialist in the Department of Animal Vet and Food Science at the University of Idaho. This is the first episode in a two-part series discussing the background and purpose of the University of Idaho research facility, the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (CAFE). The new 649-acre research facility is located near Rupert, Idaho. The vision for the CAFE, says Dr.Chahine, is to become “a center of excellence that will be able to answer those complex questions related to dairy production and its impact on the environment.”

In this episode of Sustainable Idaho, host Holly Wilson speaks with Eve Preucil-Cord, Sustainability Coordinator for Blaine County, and Andrew Mentzer, sustainability contractor and doctoral researcher at Boise State University. They discuss Blaine County’s recent wildfire history, the climate conditions driving increasing fire risk, and how local leaders are planning for resilience through the county’s Climate Action Plan.

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Brad Heusinkveld, the Interior West Regulatory Director of Vote Solar. They talk about a March 2025 Utah legislation that allows for the installation of balcony solar, or plug-in solar panels for residential homes. As a new technology already proven to work in Europe and more specifically Germany, the United States has a potential to provide clean, affordable, and consumer-friendly solar energy. Check out the talk about balcony solar here and see Idaho House Bill 612 and its potential addition for balcony solar in the state at this link: https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0612/.

In this episode of Sustainable Idaho, host Holly Wilson speaks with Jason Christiansen, Executive Director of Kiesha’s Preserve in Bear Lake County, Idaho.

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Kendra Kaiser, the Director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRRI) and Associate Research Professor in the Department of Soil and Water Systems at the University of Idaho. They discuss IWRRI’s exciting data program, the Big Wood River Dashboard, an interactive tool that will aid farmers and ranchers in the Big Wood River basin, Camas Creek, and Silver Creek areas. The dashboard gives real-time forecasts of streamflow volumes, can show stream patterns, and can forecast when curtailment will occur. Kaiser shares that the dashboard is meant to assist these farmers in making decisions about water usage and crop choice early in the irrigation season. Check out the new dashboard and its tools here: https://iwrri.uidaho.edu/big-wood-river-tools/.

In this episode of Sustainable Idaho, host Holly Wilson speaks with Ali Ward, Sustainability Supervisor for the Boise School District #, about how schools in the district are reducing energy use, managing resources responsibly, and involving students in meaningful, hands-on sustainability work. From clean energy commitments and solar installations to student-led projects like TreeQuest and bird-safe windows, this conversation highlights how small, sustained changes can create healthier schools and a more sustainable future. To learn more about Boise School District #1 sustainability initiatives visit: https://www.boiseschools.org/our_district/sustainability

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Kevin Bradshaw, President of the Rotary Club of Twin Falls. Now in its third year, they discuss the specifics of the 2026 Youth Eco Film Contest. As part of Rotary District 5400, which covers Southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon, Bradshaw and other members of the Environmental Sustainability Action Team (ESAT) created a Youth Eco Film Contest to bring more youth into environmental discussion. For more information, visit their website at https://rotary5400.org/esat/eco-film-contest/. Check out the Rotary District 5400 facebook, and the Environmental Sustainability Action Team Youtube Channel to view some of the previous years’ contest winners. And for any questions, email [email protected] or call Liz Alexander at 208-703-3831.

Water moves through southeastern Idaho in ways we don’t always see both above the ground and below it, shaping agriculture, recreation, wildlife habitat, and the water we drink. On this episode of Sustainable Idaho, host Holly Wilson talks with Charity Staggs of the Portneuf Watershed Partnership about how the Portneuf River connects communities across the region. To learn more visit: https://portneufwatershed.org/

On today’s episode, Madison speaks to Roy Mink, President of MinkGeoHYdro, former Director of Geothermal Technologies Program for the U.S. Department of Energy. Roy has been involved in Idaho’s geothermal realm for over 40 years. They discuss the inner workings of the Raft River Geothermal Power Plant, located in Cassia County, and other matters surrounding Idaho’s geothermal energy. For more information on Raft River geothermal site, go here: https://www.energymonitor.ai/projects/raft-river-geothermal-project-southern-idaho/. Or learn about geothermal research in Idaho here: https://inl.gov/integrated-energy/geothermal/.

On today’s episode, Madison speaks with Ryer Becker, the Forest Operations and Products Manufacturing Extension Specialist with the University of Idaho. Becker will answer one of the most common Christmas questions: which option is more sustainable? A 2023 survey by data company Statista found that 70% of American households planned to put up a Christmas tree, 24% chose natural or real trees, while 46% opted for artificial trees like the ones found in a local grocery outlet. As we enter December, consumers enter the season of bundling up and opening their pocket books for Christmas expenses, so consider whether you might opt for real or artificial tree this Christmas.

On today’s episode, Madison speaks with Pallavi Pokharel, ISU’s new Sustainability Manager, about her plans to expand sustainability at the university level. According to ISU’s Sustainability website, a sustainability manager is “dedicated to developing a culture that prioritizes sustainability while fostering innovation, progress, and collaboration within the Bengal community.” Pokharel is actively working to reduce waste on campus through more recycling initiatives, spark interest with a potential campus thrift store, and educate college students about sustainability. Students can find Pokharel in the Physical Science Complex, room 104B or message her at [email protected]. To learn more about sustainability initiatives at ISU and how to get involved, see their sustainability questionnaire and find out how to sign up for their newsletter.

In this week’s episode of Sustainable Idaho, co-host Holly Wilson sits down with Richard Roberts, founder of Bicycles for Recovery, a grassroots nonprofit in Pocatello that’s helping members of our community rebuild their lives one bike at a time. Drawing from his own experiences with addiction, homelessness, and the long road back to stability, Richard shares how a simple bicycle can become a lifeline for people in recovery, individuals re-entering the workforce, and families experiencing homelessness. Through community donations, partnerships with local agencies, and a growing network of volunteers, Bicycles for Recovery is giving people more than transportation; it's giving them momentum, dignity, and a path forward. Listen in to learn how bicycles are opening doors, empowering resilience, and helping shape a more connected, compassionate Idaho.

On today’s episode, Madison speaks with Aaron Menenberg, the Idaho Policy Manager for Renewable Northwest. Renewable Northwest is an advocacy organization focused on supporting a regional grid that meets growing demand with reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean, energy. For more information on Renewable Northwest and their mission, go to renewablenw.org.

On this episode of Sustainable Idaho, co-host Holly Wilson dives into the vegetation restoration along I-15 in Pocatello.

On today’s episode, Madison speaks with Dr. EJ Zita, an Idaho farmer, rancher, and a PhD energy physicist, to talk about Bannock County’s renewable energy ban and the new Southeast Idaho Energy and Property Alliance. For more information, she suggests going to www.SEIEPA.com. From there, you can email your questions to [email protected], find information on public meetings and the Bannock County Solar Energy Ordinance.