April 20, 2009

Idaho Power Begins Forming Boardman to Hemingway Advisory Teams

Representatives from Idaho and Oregon communities have begun forming Project Advisory Teams that will ultimately recommend proposed and alternate routes for the Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project.

"We have been meeting with key community stakeholders the past two weeks who have been providing us with recommended committee membership and we are currently putting together a list of people to invite based on their recommendations," said Kent McCarthy, project leader for the Community Advisory Process. "Our intention is to send out the proposed list of committee members to key stakeholders in the next few days and ask them if the list is representative and inclusive."

The public involvement approach will engage community members throughout the project area who will learn about the project need and electrical infrastructure, share their ideas and concerns, develop a range of possible routes and ultimately recommend a proposed route.  Idaho Power will work with the public, resource and regulatory agencies, government officials and other interest groups and organizations during this process.

The proposed and alternate routes will connect Boardman Substation in northeast Oregon with Hemingway Substation in southwest Idaho.  Originally the proposed Sand Hollow/Northwest Substation was part of the project, but due to engineering changes, Idaho Power removed it from the project.  The station will be discussed in this process but the actual location will be determined separately at some point in the future.

"We’ve successfully used this community advisory approach for long-term planning efforts throughout our service area," said Lynette Berriochoa, project information specialist.   "We initiated this approach in 2005 and it has proven to be a mutually beneficial exercise – Idaho Power ends up with a strategic, long-term plan for a particular area, and the communities incorporate that into their comprehensive plans to aid with future development."

In this case, three Project Advisory Teams will be convened representing geographic areas for the project.  Recruitment of team members, which includes community members, local, state and federal agencies, business owners and special interest groups, began in early April.  Teams will be formed in the next two weeks, with the first meetings scheduled for sometime in May.

Boardman to Hemingway is one of two 500 kV projects. The other is Gateway West, which stretches from southwest Idaho to central Wyoming. These high-voltage transmission lines are used to move electricity across great distances. The existing transmission system has been at full capacity during high-demand periods.  Electrical requirements and needs of Idaho Power’s residential, commercial and wholesale transmission customers are increasing.

"Power transmission projects like this one serve local communities as well as enhance the regional grid, and Idaho Power emphasizes a collaborative approach with all who are touched by our transmission line projects," said Berriochoa. "Our goal is to find a route that has the fewest number of impacts while meeting the needs and objectives of the project. Our challenge is balancing these needs within the confines of the federal, state and local processes we must follow."
www.boardmantohemingway.com
www.gatewaywestproject.com