MT. VERNON – Idaho Power officials urged Grant County residents to stay plugged in to the B2H transmission line siting process, even as it enters a new phase.

The utility was expected to make a decision on a preferred route for the 500-kilovolt line, which will run from Boardman, Ore., to Hemingway, Idaho, this week. The company is looking at three routes – two that go through Baker County and one that goes through Grant County.

Regardless of Idaho Power’s choice, officials advised residents attending an informational meeting March 31 in Mt. Vernon to stay involved.

“You need to stay engaged and pay attention” due to the nature of the project, said Dave Angell, manager of delivery planning for Idaho Power.

Officials lauded Grant County’s participation during Idaho Power’s community advisory process, which took comments through March 25.

“You’ve given us a tremendous number of comments from Grant County that are really substantial, that talk about the status of the project. It’s very useful for us,” said Kent McCarthy, an Idaho Power system planning engineer.

“Folks don’t generally like transmission lines in their viewshed,” added Angell. “Folks in Grant County didn’t write letters that just said ‘not in my back yard.’ You’ve done very well.”

McCarthy said the route recommendation would consider all the comments and concerns, as well as the technical analysis.

By mid-April, a revised NEPA application will go to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the agency that will continue siting of the B2H project.

McCarthy promised that by late April he and other officials will be back in Grant County to explain the project and the decision, as well as to answer questions. “We want to keep communications going,” he added.

The project, which would provide a link between an energy hub in the Pacific Northwest and users in southern Idaho, Wyoming and Utah, is “the biggest thing we’ve done since Hell’s Canyon in the 1950s,” said Vern Porter, vice president of delivery engineering and operations.

An audience member asked why Grant County was proposed for use as a route. “If a route is suggested, it will be analyzed as part of our commitment to the process,” said Angell.

Idaho Power cannot guarantee that the BLM won’t receive suggestions from elsewhere that Grant County become the route, even if it isn’t the company’s choice, he said.

By early summer, the BLM will begin scoping meetings to gather input. They will most likely be held in locations wherever a proposed route is, Angell said. Eventually, a draft environmental impact statement will be issued, and more meetings will be held.

Porter said he expects it will be 18 months to two years before the National Environmental Policy Act process is done and a permit is awarded. Construction is anticipated for 2013, with the goal of putting the line in service in 2015.

Once the permit is issued, the BLM handles how federal land is traversed, while Idaho Power will have to go out and negotiate to purchase any private land needed for the project, said Angell.

The topic of eminent domain came up frequently during the meeting. Officials said their objective is to negotiate without using that tactic.

“Eminent domain is the last and the most avoided approach we have. We don’t like using it. We haven’t used it for 20 years. We hate doing it,” Porter said.

He noted that after lines are built, they must be patrolled and maintained.

“We want to have a relationship with the community after the lines are built; eminent domain leaves a sour taste in people’s mouths. It’s important to have good relationships with landowners and avoid eminent domain at all costs,” he said.

Not everyone was happy with the information at the meeting.

“The bottom line is this is going to amount to millions of dollars. People in Grant County eke out a living here. You’ve put on a good face. After you’re here, you’re out of the picture, the only people we’ll be dealing with are lawyers,” said Dave Traylor of John Day.

Porter said company officials would continue to be involved.

“I’m not going to convince you of that,” he added. “We’re here to serve customers and keep the lights on.”

“So we just have to write letters and hope and pray?” asked Larry Pierce of Mt. Vernon.

Other questions asked at the meeting included:

? Will any nuclear power plants be built in Idaho? Not in the foreseeable future, Angell said.

? Is there any chance Idaho Power will scrap this project? “No, we’re committed to building it,” he said.

? Will Idaho Power build other plants in Idaho? No. There is a projected need for a substantial amount of power in Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. Idaho Power has a memorandum of understanding between various companies toward this project, Angell said.

? Could the line go underground? It can be done for short distances, said Porter, although it is very expensive and complex. Substations have to be constructed on either end of an underground segment, he said.

? Would people need to re-submit their comments on the project? Angell noted it would be good to have made copies, in case.

? Is it a conflict for Tetra Tech, which provided analysis for Idaho Power, to also contract with BLM regarding the project? Angell has been told that “they keep folks separated, supposedly there are two different groups within the company.”

To assist Grant County participants, officials said the summary of proposals would be moved to a better place on the Idaho Power website. Stream crossings will be added to the proposal map.

Persons interested in receiving project updates are encouraged to sign up on the mailing list located online. Links are also there to comment to the BLM and Energy Facilities Siting agency.