Hemingway Transmission Station
The Treasure Valley electric load – or demand on the system – has historically increased by about 50 megawatts annually. That's equal to adding a city more than two and one-half times the size of Homedale to the valley each year.
Growth rates like these are straining Idaho Power's infrastructure. Under present conditions, our transmission capabilities to bring power into the Treasure Valley occasionally reach full capacity.
As a transmission provider, Idaho Power has the obligation to plan and construct transmission facilities to ensure reliable electric service to its customers.
The Hemingway Transmission Station, which is now in service, will initially help meet these projected electrical demands by enabling Idaho Power to tap off PacifiCorp's existing Midpoint–Summer Lake 500 kV transmission line to deliver power from outside the valley.
PacifiCorp also owns portions of this transmission station.
The transmission station's primary purpose is to convert 500 kV electricity to 230 kV for transmission into the Treasure Valley via Idaho Power's Bowmont Substation in Canyon County.
This will improve the overall reliability of our existing transmission system. At complete buildout, this station will serve as the Idaho terminal connecting a 500 kV transmission path to a substation near Boardman, Ore., (the Boardman to Hemingway project) and one to a substation near Glenrock, Wyo., (the Gateway West project).
View our Project Fact Sheet and project construction photos.
Station Details
Hemingway Transmission Station is located approximately 10 miles southwest of Melba near the Wilson Creek Cemetery off Highway 78.
The station will be served from PacifiCorp's existing 500 kV transmission line adjacent to the southwest corner of the station. This line currently extends from the Midpoint Transmission Station southeast of Shoshone, Idaho, to Summer Lake, Ore.
The fenced portion of the station includes 500 kV-to-230 kV transformers, switching equipment, associated overhead metal bus work, control building, communications facilities and microwave tower. This fenced area is sufficient in size to meet immediate and future expansion needs of the station and occupies approximately 70 acres of land.
The station began operating June 2010. View project construction photos.
Project Schedule
Public Meetings
January – June 2008
Acquire Easements
June 2008 – November 2009
Final Engineering Design
June – December 2009
Construction
January – June 2010
Station In Service
June 2010
Contact Information
If you have questions about the Hemingway Transmission Station project, or have information you wish to be considered, contact:
Mike Ybarguen, Community Relations
Phone: 208-465-8653
e-mail: mybarguen@idahopower.com
Mike Barrie, Facility Siting Coordinator
Phone: 208-388-2366
e-mail: mbarrie@idahopower.com
Mike Bracke, Project Leader
Phone: 208-388-5085
e-mail: mbracke@idahopower.com
or mail to:
Idaho Power Company
P.O. Box 70
Boise, ID 83707
(attention to employee name listed above)
Related Information
Treasure Valley Projects
Garden Valley Projects
Oregon Projects
Regional Projects
Generation Projects
Twin Falls Area Projects
Wood River Valley Projects
Hemingway Construction
Learn about construction of the new Hemingway Transmission Station.
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