Friday, May 15, 2009
VERY IMPORTANT MEETING
The Payette Planning @ Zoning will have their public meeting on Langley Gulch on Monday May 18th at 10:15 to consider an application for the rezoning for the power plant. The Planning and Zoning already approved the zone change, and at this meeting, they will make the final approval. This would be a great meeting to attend.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Letter from JOHN HARTMAN
The citizens of Western Canyon County of Protect Canyon County would like to thank the Parma Task Force of Protect Parma Idaho and the Malheur County Citizens Group of Stop Idaho Power for their relentless efforts to inform the public and pressure Idaho Power on the importance of moving the B2H 500kV transmission lines and the Sand Hollow Sub Station (Northwest Source Substation) from the rural areas of Western Treasure Valley. Although these groups have a slightly different focus on this issue, the important point we all can agree on is the value of placing these transmission lines on public lands. It seems that Idaho Power has “seen the light” and the Sand Hollow Substation is no longer a priority for now. Idaho Power has said they will now establish local citizen involvement teams for input on recommendations for a less intrusive B2H route. Idaho Power has realized their mistake of not initially engaging and including members of local communities that will be affected by these potentially 190 foot tall towers. We would like to publicly thank Idaho Power for this little bit of breathing room and to now see the importance of community involvement in the placement of something that so profoundly affects us all.
We believe that each of the Western Treasure Valley groups must work together toward our common goal. The citizens of our communities must realize that this is only the beginning of a long process and that we all must continue to be actively involved. Write letters, spread the word and tell Idaho Power your story. We must make sure that all of the decision makers involved in the B2H Transmission Line Project understand that these transmission lines do not need to go over Prime Agricultural Lands and City Impact Areas. A POWER LINE FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD SHOULD BE ON PUBLIC LANDS.
We believe that each of the Western Treasure Valley groups must work together toward our common goal. The citizens of our communities must realize that this is only the beginning of a long process and that we all must continue to be actively involved. Write letters, spread the word and tell Idaho Power your story. We must make sure that all of the decision makers involved in the B2H Transmission Line Project understand that these transmission lines do not need to go over Prime Agricultural Lands and City Impact Areas. A POWER LINE FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD SHOULD BE ON PUBLIC LANDS.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
MAY 5, 2009 PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Todd Lakey, (208)323-5393
Citizens Group Forms to Fight Construction of High Voltage Power Lines on Farmland
Protect Canyon County says Idaho Powerʼs current plans for 500kV transmission lines are bad for farmers and residents. A group of Canyon County residents have organized as Protect Canyon County to work with the public and Idaho Power to ensure that 190-foot tall, high voltage power line towers wonʼt threaten the livelihoods or traditions of area farmers and other residents.
Earlier this year Idaho Power proposed building the lines, part of a large expansion project stretching from Boardman, Oregon to a substation to be built near Melba, Idaho, through dozens of family-owned farms in rural Canyon County. After an outcry from local residents, Idaho Power tabled those plans and announced a “community advisory process.” Protect Canyon County will be actively involved in this process, advocating construction of the towers on more remote public lands.
John Hartman, a Canyon County farmer whose family has farmed their land for over 100 years, doesnʼt think Idaho Power understands the unique and highly specialized nature of farming in western Canyon County. “We donʼt farm large tracts of land like they do in most parts of the country, so we have to rely heavily upon technology and precision farming to stay competitive,” Hartman said. “Itʼs very hard to be precise if you have a 190-foot tower supported by a forty by forty foot concrete base in the middle of your field.”
Hartman and other area farmers say that if Idaho Power locates the new lines on farmland, the County will likely lose a large part of their economic base as the farmers are forced to switch to less profitable crops or reduce their acreage. “Our ground is extremely rich, which allows us to grow a lot of specialty seed and vegetable crops,” Hartman said. “Building these towers on our farms will make crop dusting and using existing irrigation and harvesting equipment very difficult, jeopardizing our livelihoods and those of the many companies that support us.”
For their part, Idaho Power has recently announced a series of public forums to gather input from residents and local community leaders on the details of the project, known as the Boardman to Hemingway (B2H) 500kV transmission project. “The decision to build giant high voltage power lines through working farms when there are clearly better alternatives, is something that should not be made hastily or without citizen involvement” said Todd Lakey, spokesman for Protect Canyon County. “We give Idaho Power credit for making an effort to be more thoughtful and communicative throughout this process and we look forward to encouraging citizens to become involved.”
Protect Canyon County is a grassroots effort by local farmers, businesspeople and other residents hoping to engage with Idaho Power, regulators and local governments to ensure that all options are being considered. They are cautiously optimistic that through ongoing community involvement, the lines will be placed in more remote areas. “We recognize that the transmission lines are going to eventually be built, ” Lakey said. “Our goal is to make sure they are built smartly, with serious consideration given to the families who live and work here.”
Protect Canyon County plans to educate and connect concerned citizens through a series of events over the coming months.
Contact: Todd Lakey, (208)323-5393
Citizens Group Forms to Fight Construction of High Voltage Power Lines on Farmland
Protect Canyon County says Idaho Powerʼs current plans for 500kV transmission lines are bad for farmers and residents. A group of Canyon County residents have organized as Protect Canyon County to work with the public and Idaho Power to ensure that 190-foot tall, high voltage power line towers wonʼt threaten the livelihoods or traditions of area farmers and other residents.
Earlier this year Idaho Power proposed building the lines, part of a large expansion project stretching from Boardman, Oregon to a substation to be built near Melba, Idaho, through dozens of family-owned farms in rural Canyon County. After an outcry from local residents, Idaho Power tabled those plans and announced a “community advisory process.” Protect Canyon County will be actively involved in this process, advocating construction of the towers on more remote public lands.
John Hartman, a Canyon County farmer whose family has farmed their land for over 100 years, doesnʼt think Idaho Power understands the unique and highly specialized nature of farming in western Canyon County. “We donʼt farm large tracts of land like they do in most parts of the country, so we have to rely heavily upon technology and precision farming to stay competitive,” Hartman said. “Itʼs very hard to be precise if you have a 190-foot tower supported by a forty by forty foot concrete base in the middle of your field.”
Hartman and other area farmers say that if Idaho Power locates the new lines on farmland, the County will likely lose a large part of their economic base as the farmers are forced to switch to less profitable crops or reduce their acreage. “Our ground is extremely rich, which allows us to grow a lot of specialty seed and vegetable crops,” Hartman said. “Building these towers on our farms will make crop dusting and using existing irrigation and harvesting equipment very difficult, jeopardizing our livelihoods and those of the many companies that support us.”
For their part, Idaho Power has recently announced a series of public forums to gather input from residents and local community leaders on the details of the project, known as the Boardman to Hemingway (B2H) 500kV transmission project. “The decision to build giant high voltage power lines through working farms when there are clearly better alternatives, is something that should not be made hastily or without citizen involvement” said Todd Lakey, spokesman for Protect Canyon County. “We give Idaho Power credit for making an effort to be more thoughtful and communicative throughout this process and we look forward to encouraging citizens to become involved.”
Protect Canyon County is a grassroots effort by local farmers, businesspeople and other residents hoping to engage with Idaho Power, regulators and local governments to ensure that all options are being considered. They are cautiously optimistic that through ongoing community involvement, the lines will be placed in more remote areas. “We recognize that the transmission lines are going to eventually be built, ” Lakey said. “Our goal is to make sure they are built smartly, with serious consideration given to the families who live and work here.”
Protect Canyon County plans to educate and connect concerned citizens through a series of events over the coming months.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Second Letter from CAMPBELL TRACTOR
I have recieved the Western Canyon County 500 KV A line projected path for Canyon and Ada counties and we are VERY concerned about the route. It looks to take over prime agriculture lands as it makes its way across the valley. The area we service from our stores in Jerome, Gooding and Elmore counties appear not affected as the line looks to turn farther south over unimproved lands. The areas of Ada and Eastern Canyon Counties have had poorly planned residential development and we need to all work together to do a much better job with the location of this power line path so as to protect some of the best agricultural land left in this area. I realize the need for added power capacity to this valley, but at the same time, we must make sure not to damage our ag base that has been the back bone of the Treasure Valley.
Sincerely,
Dan Campbell
Sincerely,
Dan Campbell
Letter from VALLEY AIR SERVICE, INC.
April 9, 2009
Dear Mr. Payne,
This letter is to inform you that we cnanot make application to onions at the intersection of Willis and Hartley due to the position and height of power lines. It has been deemed a safety hazard for aircraft entering and existing said field.
Sincerely,
Jim Welch
Valley Air Service
(This problem would be the same for various fields in and around the Canyon County.
Ten Davis Rec)
Dear Mr. Payne,
This letter is to inform you that we cnanot make application to onions at the intersection of Willis and Hartley due to the position and height of power lines. It has been deemed a safety hazard for aircraft entering and existing said field.
Sincerely,
Jim Welch
Valley Air Service
(This problem would be the same for various fields in and around the Canyon County.
Ten Davis Rec)
Letter from WESTERN STATES AG
April 9, 2009
RE: Boardman Hemingwway 500 KV Transmission Line Project
Dear Jim and the Ten Davis Area Farmers,
Our conversation regarding the proposed Transmission Line Project and the potential negative impact this could have on your farming business has prompted a few questions in my mind. The success of our customers greatly impacts our business. Like you, I am not opposed to the construction of the transmission line; however, there may be further considerations that need addressed.
Is there a more suitable route for the transmission line that would avoid or at least minimize the impact to private property value?
Would a more suitable route avoid further reducing prime farm ground by routing through public and BLM ground?
what impact will the proposed transmission line have on the farmers' ability to move machinery between fields?
To be in full support of this project, I would need these concerns addressed.
Steve Huling
Ag Sales Manager
Western States Equipment
RE: Boardman Hemingwway 500 KV Transmission Line Project
Dear Jim and the Ten Davis Area Farmers,
Our conversation regarding the proposed Transmission Line Project and the potential negative impact this could have on your farming business has prompted a few questions in my mind. The success of our customers greatly impacts our business. Like you, I am not opposed to the construction of the transmission line; however, there may be further considerations that need addressed.
Is there a more suitable route for the transmission line that would avoid or at least minimize the impact to private property value?
Would a more suitable route avoid further reducing prime farm ground by routing through public and BLM ground?
what impact will the proposed transmission line have on the farmers' ability to move machinery between fields?
To be in full support of this project, I would need these concerns addressed.
Steve Huling
Ag Sales Manager
Western States Equipment
LETTER FROM CAMPBELL TRACTOR
April 22, 2009
From: Terry Maybon
Manager; Campbell Tractor
John Deere Dealer
Re: High voltage lines crosiing agricultural farm ground
It has recently come to our attention the proposal of a 550,000V Transmission line to be ran through much of our valued farm ground in Canyon County.
As one of the leading agricultural businesses in the area, this is of great concern because of the many negative impacts this could be to many of our customers.
One of the greatest areas of concern is the disruption and interruption of the Satellite directed steering systems that are being used to guide/steer most row crop tractors in the proposed area.
This system uses a network of privately owned and "waas" satellites along with a radio frequency to triangulate a signal to sub-inch steering accuracy. Great cost has been invested by growers to seek the efficiency benefits of this system.
In our initial reviews of this concern with the John Deere support group of this division, we have been told there very likely could be distortion or complete interruption of the Satellite portion of the signal being received by the tractor or the RTK base station.
This not only raises issues about lost productivity and investment in the systems but even more so the great Safety Concerns cause by inaccurate or lost steering on a large Farm Tractor.
We are all aware of the huge percentage of commerce that is brought into this valley by our Farmer customers and related agricultural businesses. I hope that those involved in making these decisions will be sensitive to their best interest and seek other alternatives to the placement of this transmission line.
Thank You
Terry Maybon
From: Terry Maybon
Manager; Campbell Tractor
John Deere Dealer
Re: High voltage lines crosiing agricultural farm ground
It has recently come to our attention the proposal of a 550,000V Transmission line to be ran through much of our valued farm ground in Canyon County.
As one of the leading agricultural businesses in the area, this is of great concern because of the many negative impacts this could be to many of our customers.
One of the greatest areas of concern is the disruption and interruption of the Satellite directed steering systems that are being used to guide/steer most row crop tractors in the proposed area.
This system uses a network of privately owned and "waas" satellites along with a radio frequency to triangulate a signal to sub-inch steering accuracy. Great cost has been invested by growers to seek the efficiency benefits of this system.
In our initial reviews of this concern with the John Deere support group of this division, we have been told there very likely could be distortion or complete interruption of the Satellite portion of the signal being received by the tractor or the RTK base station.
This not only raises issues about lost productivity and investment in the systems but even more so the great Safety Concerns cause by inaccurate or lost steering on a large Farm Tractor.
We are all aware of the huge percentage of commerce that is brought into this valley by our Farmer customers and related agricultural businesses. I hope that those involved in making these decisions will be sensitive to their best interest and seek other alternatives to the placement of this transmission line.
Thank You
Terry Maybon
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