Idaho Power Meeting Wednesday Afternoon

Jean Findley reports that a dozen or so Malheur County residents sat down with the Idaho Power people in Boise, who she says were cordial but insisted that the centerpiece to their transmission line was the proposed Sand Hollow substation. Roger Findley did the main presentation, Bruce Corn talked about the effect on farming, and Jean outlined alternate routes, including

• Grassy Mountain to Huntington Junction
• The Pacific Power and Light line to Buchanan, the designated BLM utility corridor
• Follow I-84

but Idaho Power claimed these alternates did not meet their needs.

The most astonishing piece of information was that when asked, IP admitted that NOT ONE OREGON RESIDENT was included in their corridor siting committee. This is insular thinking of the highest order, either that or unabashed cluelessness. They evidently have not dealt with Oregon land use laws before, or aggravated Oregonians, for that matter. This underscores the need to involve Oregon government officials and regulatory bodies as soon as possible. As one of my neighbors points out, they are finding Oregon's strict land use laws useful since there are fewer homes in their path, and "of course the public BLM land must have too many homes since they are using our private land."

IP was fairly surprised that our citizens' group is so well organized so early, and they further admitted that they have never before had to condemn property because everyone was willing to simply give it to them. No wonder the proposed transmission line corridor is a marvel of how to avoid crossing Idaho for the sake of Idahoans. They even said they couldn't run it through Idaho because it would CROSS FARM GROUND.

Jean made it clear that revising the siting inside Malheur County is NOT an option; we are not going to shove the transmission line a mile this way or a mile that way onto our neighbor's place.

Which reminds me, DO NOT LET ANYONE ON YOUR PROPERTY. Sunstone (Natural Gas Pipeline) has been doing environmental impact studies, you may see big helicopter X's painted on road intersections, and surveyors are out. Call the sheriff, if you must.

Jean said she believes IP was impressed with the seriousness of our group, especially when they were told we would be in the process of hiring an attorney. Since we have abided by Oregon land use laws for these last 30 years, IP must abide by them, too.

UPDATE Ken Teramura adds his observations of the meeting:

Their attention was drawn when:

• The petition with 1302 names on it.
• Exclusive Farm Use Laws in Oregon were violated
• Oregon Public Utilities must OK the project
• Farrell Larson said we will take it to the supreme court if necessary
• Mrs. Sayers comment that they will not be welcome on her property

We need at the Monday meeting:

• Get more names of people affected
• Contact Governor Kulongoski and PUC
• Check if Baker and other cities might have the same laws violated
• What to tell the person from Sunstone or Idaho Power on your property
• If the north route through Idaho is being contested
• Cost of legal counsel
• Keep people writing letters because Nov 14 might not be the final date