Idaho Power's B2H Facilitated Advisory Committee Meeting Approximately 45 community members, elected officials, and organizational representatives met for five hours Thursday, May 21st, at the Four Rivers Cultural Center in Ontario for the first of a series of meetings seeking a new B2H transmission line route. Notable in their attendance was Adam Bless and Sue Oliver of the Oregon Department of Energy, and Lucas Lucero, Regional BLM.
Also present were Idaho Power officials including Senior Vice President Dan Minor, Dave Angell, Kent McCarthy, Lisa Grow and Eric Hackett.
After Idaho Power's preliminary presentations, those attending were divided into three groups. Time was spent bringing all members up to speed on the issues.
From reports of those attending, the preliminary consensus was that in every case possible, the route should be kept off of private and farm land and instead routed through public or range land. Farm land is specifically protected by Oregon land use laws.
Quotes from those attending:
(1) "I thought the meeting was a good start in the process. Idaho Power seemed more open than before that they were not trying to 'sell' a route.
"I felt that everyone in my workgroup was on the same page - not over farm ground. I had been afraid that some of the ctiy representatives might not be as strong on this point - but they were very vocal about the impact on agriculture.
"At the next meeting we will hear the BLM & Idaho Power criteria that the route should consider. This meeting will be a critical one to show whether this is really an open process."
(2) "I agree that everybody in the room was opposed to the line going over the top of farmland. I also agree that Idaho Power seemed much more forthright now that the decision was made to involve more citizen participation.
"One of our group point blank asked IP whether or not this meeting was genuine and whether or not our suggestions would really be taken into consideration, or was their mind really already made up as to where the line is going. IP stated emphatically that the meeting was genuine and that they would try to follow the citizen's suggestions in every way possible.
"I asked Dave Angel a hypothetical question to the effect that if BLM was to give their approval today on a route around the Valley and through public land (SIP Alternate #2) would IP take that route even thought it would be an additional 40 miles and $40,000,000. He stated that it would probably more like $80,000,000 but that they would take that route if it were approved by the BLM.
"I was somewhat impressed with Eric Hackett as he was able to field some pretty tough questions calmly and seemed to have a better handle on the entire process than anyone I have encountered with IP to date.
"As a point of curiosity, our moderator stated two or three times that our group was one of the best citizen input groups that she had encountered. I was wondering if all of the moderators said the same thing as part of their approach, or was it a genuine comment.
"At any rate, I think it was a good start, and as previously stated, the next meeting will determine if the process might to lead to something positive."
(3) "If we are to take IP at their word, this was a good start, with the real work coming in the future. Everyone must hear a 1000 times if nessary no EFU land in Malheur County and know we are serious and will not compromise."
(4) "The 'back of the room' group consisted entirely of Malheur County folks. Mr. Lucero sat on the side and answered questions.
"We, too, voiced our concerns and when asked for solutions, there was one: choose one of the routes proposed by Jean Findley and stay off EFU ground. Afterwords, one of the group and I were sitting in the hall waiting for the rest of the groups to finish. We had a conversation with a gentleman from Idaho.
"This gentleman said Malheur County has two definite issues, the necessity for aerial spraying and Oregon law. He did say he was a personal friend of Dan Minor, and he had posed the question of whether or not the committee results would be the route to Minor, and Minor said yes, the committee will be the determining group. . . "
Thanks to those who contributed to this post.
