Roger Findley reports that eight members of SIP, along with Parma Mayor Margaret Watson and several action committee members from Owyhee and Payette, and a note-taking member of Oregon's PUC, attended Idaho Power's Integrated Resource Plan advisory meeting in Boise on Tuesday, February 3rd. Although the IRP isn't specifically about the proposed transmission lines, IPCo's promise to meet with us again has not been responded to for over two months so we hoped face-to-face time might remind them of their commitment.
During the public comment period after the day-long IRP session, Mayor Watson shared her straightforward sentiments with Idaho Power on their route through Parma's urban growth boundary. Following Watson was SIP's Roger Findley, who presented IPCo officials with an honorary No Entry sign, copies of petitions asking the Oregon PUC to hold its Hearing for Need in Malheur County, over 1000 signatures asking IPCo to reroute the line out of exclusive farm use land, and a summary speech of SIP's position and alternative routes. This was answered with the usual "we're working on it" remarks.
Following public comment, several members of IPCo's hand-picked advisory committee interacted with our action group members, expressing support and the hope that some IPCo higher-ups who at this point seem to be defensively foot-dragging, will eventually come to realize that their present route can be changed to the benefit of almost everyone, by following the recommendataions of Oregon Department of Energy's Project Order. The sooner this happens, the better for everyone.
Roger also talked to a member of an environmental group in attendance, inviting him to participate in the process of navigating a route through BLM land that would be to everyones' satisfaction. He responded positively and traded contact information.
In other news, the Onion Growers' Association, about 50%-50% Idahoans and Eastern Oregonians, was treated to a 5-minute speech on the 500kV subject by Rachel Corn of the FFA Tuesday at their meeting in the FRCC. This was followed by a Powerpoint presentation outlining the possible fallout on our agriculture-based way of life from this proposed line.
SIP is grateful for the growing support on the part of suppliers, agencies and organizations who are writing letters in behalf of preserving Malheur, Payette, Baker, Owyhee, and Canyon County farmland for farming and public land for public utilities.
