BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Officials with Idaho Power Co. say the utility plans to build a pilot solar panel plant so that it can gain expertise in a field that could one day become a significant part of its power generating operations.

Company spokesman Mike Stokes tells the Idaho Statesman (http://bit.ly/rgUUwz ) that the company wants to build a one-half to 1-megawatt plant using solar panels in southwest Idaho. Estimated cost is $2 to $4 million.

The state's biggest utility plans to ask for bids later this year, but hasn't decided whether to put the solar panels on the ground or rooftops.

Idaho Power has 492,000 residential, business and agricultural customers.

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Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com

Copyright 2011 The AP.