This isn't the first time the Idaho legislature has tried to establish oversight for the building of transmission lines. It's most likely why communities are turning to their federal legislators.
1st item: As Ken Miller of the Snake River Alliance describes it:
http://www.snakeriveralliance.org/OurWork/Energy/IdahoEnergyUpdate/tabid/1034/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2887/Default.aspx
January 23, 2009 I: Transmission Bill Set for Hearing Monday; Siting Bill Introduced - Again
The first energy-related bill of the 2009 legislative session is scheduled for a hearing Monday in the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, and House and Senate Democrats have once again introduced a bill designed to better plan for the siting of new energy generation facilities. . .
The siting bill, like others in past sessions, was introduced Friday by Senate Democrats and has not been set for a hearing. Past siting bills have not received committee hearings.
Like earlier bills, this one would set up a system (similar to Oregon's) in which a siting review panel would be created, including state and local representatives. Developers of projects of 50MW or more would be required to submit an application to the Public Utilities Commission, including documentation on how a project meets specific requirements for review by the siting panel.
2nd item:
Minnick urges federal cooperation for power lines http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-apr1609-minnick_power_lines.dea8677a.html
Associated Press April 16, 2009 BOISE -- Rep. Walt Minnick is urging the federal government to get more involved with state and local leaders in planning where to erect the next generation of high-voltage power lines. . .
Last month, Minnick was one of several Republicans and Democrats who signed a letter asking Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to simplify the process for building power lines across public land.
The letter also encourages federal planners to work more proactively at the local level.
Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, also signed the letter.
3rd item: An earlier article in which 1) IPCo routes transmission lines over private land without telling anyone, then 2) blames the BLM.
The article below refers to "40 (regional) public meetings" for local input into the finalized federal corridors, although to look at page 72 of the Forest Service Section 368 map of Idaho http://corridoreis.anl.gov/documents/docs/WWEC_FS_ROD.pdf it is clear there was almost zero adoption of locally designated routes (shown in yellow).
Maybe someone who knows can explain it to me. A listing of routes available and routes adopted can be found on page 4.
Kuna says power line flak is BLM's fault
City officials say the agency acted 'arbitrarily' in denying Idaho Power access to the Birds of Prey area.
BY JOE ESTRELLA 4/10/2009 http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/727647.html
The Bureau of Land Management is forcing Idaho Power to route its Gateway West Transmission Line Project through the city limits, Kuna City Planner Steven Hasson said after a two-hour meeting Wednesday between city officials, BLM and Idaho Power.
He said the agency ignored an Idaho Power study that showed the utility's preferred route for its proposed 500,000 volt Gateway project was through the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area south of Kuna that is already "crisscrossed" with similar high-voltage electrical towers.
"Last year the BLM just told them there was no way those lines were going to run on public land," Hasson said. "It soon became apparent who was the 800-pound gorilla in the room. It was a matter of might makes right."
The meeting between the three sides was caused by the city's outrage that Idaho Power had not communicated its plans to city officials. Parma officials were equally incensed because they had not been notified that a second transmission project originating in Boardman, Ore., would run through that community on its way to the Hemingway Substation near Melba.
Idaho Power issued a statement Wednesday in which it promised to work with the cities and federal agencies to "identify win-win solutions with the greatest benefits and fewest impacts for all."
. . . The only way for Idaho Power to run its new transmission project through the Birds of Prey area would be to amend the BLM's original management plan, a process that could take a year or more and would have to be approved by State BLM Director Tom Dyer, Sullivan said.
Hasson said the city will appeal to Dyer, but added that it will also seek help from Idaho Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick and Republican Sen. Mike Crapo.
