SIP's Idaho liaison Bruce Penn's report on the meeting:
1-22-09 B2H 500 kV Power Line
On Thursday, January 22, 2009 , SIP, represented by Roger Findley, Tom and Pat Phillips and myself, was invited to attend an Owyhee Co. community meeting in Homedale, ID. regarding the proposed Idaho Power transmission line routing. Roger gave his power point presentation and had a Q. & A. time with the folks in attendance. Malheur Co. Court was also represented by Judge Dan Joyce.
Seated is Barney Harper, who conducted the meeting January 22nd in Homedale.This was Owyhee Co.’s first public meeting regarding the power line and there was unofficially over 85 in attendance. They had a good cross section of residents present from a county commissioner, local area farmers, teachers, The Owyhee Avalanche (local newspaper), and business owners. The manager of the South Board was also in attendance and spoke to the group regarding his many concerns of impact this line will have on the irrigation system in this area.
This group is beginning to organize and build momentum to oppose the current proposed route. Like in Malheur Co., it is on private land. Subsequent public meetings have been set for Feb. 18 at Rimrock, Feb. 20 at Marsing and possibly in Grandview and Bruneau. They have many concerns and are troubled by IP’s course of action and public statements thus far regarding this power line. I’m not exaggerating to say many feel ‘ misled’ by IP at this point. A petition drive was started at the meeting.
There was discussion regarding SIP and its relationship with other impacted counties particularly in Idaho. The current relationship is one of mutual cooperation and support, sharing of information and communication with each other. Legal aspects is yet to be determined. Owyhee Co’s. consensus seems to be in agreement with SIP – move this line into public lands and where Owyhee county already has a utility corridor why has IP proposed a route through private land?
I exchanged email addresses and my cell phone number with key people and will work to keep both groups informed of each other’s meetings and activities. Also, in attendance was a resident of Canyon Co. with impacted property in Payette Co. He was in attendance at the Parma meeting held last week. He will work to talk with private land owners in both Payette and Canyon Counties. He and I will keep in contact.
Sincerely presented,
Bruce Penn
