Boise, ID
High 42 | Low 26
Currently: 37°
Wed
40|31
Thu
45|33
Fri
46|32

Idaho Power, BLM move proposed power lines away from Kuna

By Rocky Barker - rbarker@idahostatesman.com

Published: 11/18/09


Bookmark and Share
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
print story email story to a friend
Comments (0) |

Idaho Power has moved its proposed route for a new transmission line away from Kuna and through the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.

The route, which will follow an existing 500 kilovolt transmission line through the wildlife area, will now be analyzed as the preferred alternative route by the Bureau of Land Management. That analysis, of the Gateway West Transmission line project, is expected to go to public meetings again for comment in the summer of 2010.

"Landowners in that area proposed that new route and both BLM and Idaho Power wanted to come up with an acceptable route for BLM to analyze," said Lynette Berriochoa an Idaho Power spokeswoman.

The proposed line would be 1,500 feet away from the existing line. Both Idaho Power and BLM officials expect public concerns to be raised about the new route. But it relieves a strong barrier of opposition that have grown up in Kuna.

The line is a part of a $7 billion, 1,100 mile network of 190-foot high transmission towers planned from Boardman, Ore., and to eastern Wyoming by Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power.

The project is designed to make the companies' power grid more efficient, given them access to cheaper power and increase access to solar, wind and other alternative energy projects planned across the West.

OPTIONS: Most Read Stories  |  Story Comments  |  Email story  |  Print story
hide comments

Story Comments
We welcome comments but ask that you remain on topic. Some comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. Comments that are profane, personal attacks or otherwise inappropriate or are off topic are subject to removal. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Do not flag comments merely because you disagree with the comment.

more about comments here.
Local Deals
Find a Job
Keywords:
Location: