One of the keys to the original Treasure Valley Electrical Plan loop and the Boardman to Hemingway 500 kV transmission line has been an inline substation located in Sand Hollow, a few miles east of the Snake River in Idaho. What this did was doom Idaho towns north and south of the substation, as well as Malheur County residents where the line was pushed twice across the Snake River over prime farmland.
Idaho Power has finally conceded that this substation is now off the map. It has done this through signed documents, television and radio announcements, and political channels. It will force an entire reconfiguration of the original proposed B2H line.
We are grateful for Idaho Power's acknowledgement of the citizens of Idaho and Oregon.
It has been apparent from the outset that while Oregon has legal recourse through its land use laws, Idaho's rural residents' greatest strength has been political influence, something which Parma's mayor and citizens have used to great advantage. We salute their efforts and appreciate their persistence and sacrifice.
Below are selections from an AP story appearing yesterday in the Idaho Statesman and other newspapers:
Idaho Power backs off Parma transmission line plan
By JOHN MILLER - Associated Press Writer Published: 04/06/09
http://www.idahostatesman.com/531/story/723095.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=8498834#Comments_Container
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho Power Co. won't locate a high-voltage transmission line near Parma after residents protested, according to a lawmaker who represents the southwestern Idaho farming town.
Sen. Melinda Smyser said Monday that the state's largest utility has changed its plans so it no longer needs the 500-kilovolt lines with 110- to 195-foot-tall towers in an area where Parma hopes to grow. The Republican said the utility "recognized the need for more citizen involvement."
. . . "If you're going to pick on a little town, I wouldn't have picked on Parma," said (Pat) Rohwer, who helped organize community opposition after learning of the proposal in December. . .
Rohwer said locals were aghast late last year upon learning of the line planned for north and west of their city of 1,700. They raised some $20,000 to fight it, including enlisting Gallatin Public Affairs, the lobbying outfit that includes former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus, to organize opposition. . .
Farmers and officials in Oregon also have criticized the power line project, and a bill has been introduced in the Oregon Legislature to bar high-voltage power lines from land zoned for exclusive farm use. . .
. . . Although Idaho Power's change is good news, Rohwer expects the community to continue to scrutinize the project. . .
Stop Idaho Power and other citizens groups also intend to keep up the scrutiny.
