Tesla files plans for charging station in Idaho Falls

An artist's rendition of a Tesla supercharging station.

I do not know of anyone in Idaho Falls who owns a Tesla, but I have good news for whoever might. Elon Musk’s car company has filed site plans with the City of Idaho Falls Building Department to build a supercharging station at Snake River Landing, just north of MacKenzie River Pizza.

Going back over City Council minutes, it appears that the project was approved Dec. 17, 2015, at the council’s regular meeting.

And if there aren’t a lot of Tesla owners right now, the news is bound to be of interest to people in other parts of the country who plan to visit this summer.

Excluding tax credits, a 2015 Tesla Model S 70D had a base price of just over $76,000, including the $1,200 destination charge. Up one rung of the ladder, the rear­-wheel-­drive Model S 85 started at about $81,000, while the all­-wheel-­drive 85D cost another $5k.

For the high-­horsepower Model S P85D, expect to shell out about $106,000, and with all the options (if you’ve got this kind of money to spend on a car, you probably don’t care, right?) you'll be looking at a luxury electric vehicle of $131,000.

The new Model 3 has a base sticker price of $35,000, and Forbes reported Friday that orders were nearing 400,000. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2017, but much depends on the company getting its 6-million-square-foot battery factory in Nevada built in time. (Link from NPR: A Rare Look Inside The 'Gigafactory' Tesla Hopes Will Revolutionize Energy Use).

Depending on the model, a Tesla can go 215 to 270 miles on a full charge. In Idaho so far, there are charging stations in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Twin Falls.

To charge an EV at home, the owner has to plug it in before going to bed. That’s because alternating current is being used. At a supercharging station it’s direct current that’s used, but it’s still not as fast as filling the tank and hitting the road. A charging session takes about half ­an ­hour, which is why Tesla puts its stations in locations where there are restaurants and stores nearby.

Last of all, a word of warning. If you own a Nissan Leaf, a Chevrolet Volt or any other EV you will not be able to charge it at a Tesla station. Nor will you be able to charge a Bolt, Chevy’s newest offering, which has a 200-mile range comparable to Tesla’s, a sticker price in the $30,000 range and is available now.

There are a lot of details to be worked out in the standardization of EV equipment. You might be surprised to know that a lot of the groundwork is being done right here in Idaho Falls, at the Idaho National Laboratory. President Obama even gave INL’s work on electric vehicles a shout out earlier this year during his weekly radio address.

Tap-N-Fill plans May opening at Snake River Landing

Lovers of craft beer will have a new watering hole in May, Tap-N-Fill, a new growler-to-go business, which is opening in Snake River Landing.

Owners Susan and Jeff Gardner will open Idaho Falls’ first growler station next door to MacKenzie River Pizza, at 1494 Milligan Road, near the river and the Greenbelt Trail System in Snake River Landing.

They plan to offer a convenient location for beer fans to enjoy a large variety of craft beer straight from the tap for at-home or on-site consumption. Tap-N-Fill customers will be able to purchase a growler, typically a half-gallon container specifically designed for holding draft beer, or refill personal growlers from a selection of more than 40 taps. They will also have ciders, kombucha, taster trays to sample a variety of brews, and hope to offer mead as well.”

Operating hours will be Monday through Saturday from noon until 10 p.m.

NuScale announces roadmap for SMR operation at Idaho site by 2024

NuScale, which is developing a 50 MW small modular reactor, provided new details last week on the timeline to having a first-of-kind commercial unit in operation. A company spokesman presented a detailed roadmap for the deployment and a roadmap during a keynote address to the International SMR and Advanced Reactor Summit, which took place last week in Atlanta.

Follow the link to read the story on the neutron bytes.com blog:

NuScale announces roadmap for SMR operation at Idaho site by 2024

EIRMC volunteer named national finalist for award

Jim Pletscher is many things — a veteran, philanthropist, and volunteer in Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department.

It is people like Pletscher that EIRMC is seeking to recognize during National Volunteer Week. Before and after shifts, he can be found cleaning up cigarettes butts in the parking lot, jump starting cars, or chatting with patients and staff.

Earlier this year, Pletscher was selected as one of the winners of EIRMC’s Frist Humanitarian Award. He went on to win that same honor the division level of EIRMC’s parent company, Hospital Corporation of America, and this week he was was notified that he was selected from over 165 nominations as one of the two national finalists for the Volunteer Frist Award.

This is the first time that EIRMC has had anyone recognized at the division or national level.
Here are some fast facts about the hospital’s volunteers:

• There are 126 volunteers helping in 15 different areas.
• In 2015 they donated more than 25,000 hours, which would amount to 12 full-time employees.
• The average monthly hours donated was 2,100.
• Shuttle drivers average 2,400 rides/month.

Overall, EIRMC volunteers employ professional skills as patient ambassadors, chaplains, and pet partner team members.

For more information, visit www.eirmc.com.

Garden Gate Nursery welcomes new generation

Rigby's Garden Gate Nursery

Garden Gate Nursery of Rigby is about to see a “changing of the guard,” as longtime owners Gary and Prudy Gneiting prepare for retirement.

The Gneitings were looking at closing up altogether when their son Alan and his wife, Krista, bother Rigby High School graduates, decided to return from Boulder City, Nev., to take over the family business.

Garden Gate Nursery dates back to 1966, when Blaine Lundquist built his first greenhouse. The business had changed hands twice when Prudy Gneiting stopped by in the spring of 1998 to buy some planting soil. She and her husband ended up buying the nursery and were also able to purchase property east of the nursery, where they expanded the greenhouse and added a modern storefront facing the Annis Highway.

It is the only nursery in Rigby and is a popular place in spring and early summer.

Former high school sweethearts who were married in 1996, Alan and Krista Gneiting have lived in Boulder City for the past eight years, where Alan was involved in mining and excavation. Gary and Prudy Gneiting have agreed to help with the nursery until their children have learned all aspects of the business.

For more information regarding Garden Gate Nursery, call (208) 760­0711 or visit the Web site, Gardengaterigby.com