Area opposition group gains steam
Grassroots effort against power line holds meeting

By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 10:35 AM PST

The Malheur Siphon sits in the middle of the preferred study corridor for the proposed 500 kilovolt transmission line designed to cross the valley from the Lincoln Bench to the hills behind Malheur Butte. One of the reasons residents oppose this routing is because of its potential impact on this view.

ONTARIO — More than 300 people who are opposed to the proposed route of a major Idaho Power transmission line through the county attended a second session on the issue at the Boulevard Grange near Ontario Monday night.

The meeting tied up some loose ends for those who organized against the line. The grassroots opposition group formed an executive committee and other boards slated to perform specific functions.

Roger Findley, who organized the campaign, is chair of the executive committee, whose members include chairs of the other committees. Grant Kitamura is chair of the finance committee, Cliff Looney is the chairing legal counsel, Patty Kennington and Pat Phillips are chairing the communications committee and Farrell Larson is chair of political contacts.

Roger Findley, meeting organizer, announced that Jim Johnson, Oregon Department of Agriculture, is interested in meeting with residents living in the two-mile study corridor where Idaho Power wants to place its line.

No date was announced for the possible meeting. During and after the meeting, people were busy pouring over maps to determine if they lived in the corridor and left a marker on the map so leaders know who to contact.

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 Participants were encouraged to continue their letter writing campaign to the appropriate committees and individuals, including politicians. 

Called “Stop Idaho Power,”  the group’s main argument against Idaho Power’s preferred route is it crosses prime farmland in Malheur County in three different locations, while avoiding farmland and developed areas of southwest Idaho where there are better routes. Findley restated the group’s position they don’t want to stop the installation of the transmission line.

“We want Idaho Power to move the route,” he said.

It is alternate routes  Stop Idaho Power is emphasizing to press its case. According to Oregon law, in order to site a facility in an exclusive farm use zone, a utility firm must show the facility is necessary and show  reasonable alternatives have been considered and show why the facility must be cited in an exclusive farm use zone or zones.