Dialogue key to transmission project

We are working with local project advisory teams - folks in your communities who signed on to represent your views and opinions. They are providing an invaluable contribution to the transmission line routing process - as they bring their local expertise and interests to the table, we are furthering the process of identifying viable line route options with all parties. The process provides residents like you the opportunity to voice your thoughts and opinions about transmission lines and potential routes. Throughout this process we are hearing positive feedback from local officials and, most importantly, public citizens on this community advisory process. We hear your ideas and concerns and will work with you to ensure care is taken to select a proposed route balancing the impact on people, wildlife and the environment.

Idaho Power is actively involved in efforts and dialogue in western states to take action and responsibly plan for future energy generation, transmission and consumption.

Once the Boardman to Hemingway line is complete, it will serve more than the customers who are within the Idaho Power service area. Electricity can flow from one substation to the other depending on time of year and where the highest demand for electricity is occurring. For instance, the communities in Eastern Oregon and Southern Idaho experience their highest power use in the summer months, while the western portion of the Pacific Northwest traditionally requires more power during the winter season. Therefore, in the summer the line will transfer power from Pacific Northwest generation plants to customers of Idaho Power, Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative, the cities of Weiser and Burley and others.

Alternately, the line will serve western Pacific Northwest electric customers in the winter during their peak usage time. It truly is a communally beneficial project that supports the energy requirements of customers throughout the region while strengthening the regional transmission grid.

Some expressed the need for Idaho Power to drive the use of conservation rather than securing more energy. While Idaho Power provides conservation in a variety of progressive, widely-used energy efficiency and educational outreach programs, conservation alone is not enough to meet current and future electricity demand. Idaho Power builds power plants and transmission lines in direct response to consumer energy use demands. Given the region's increasing energy consumption, the need for resource infrastructure projects, such as Boardman to Hemingway, continue to exist.

Our approach to building a regionally-integrated resource further demonstrates our prudence and efficiency.

I encourage you to participate in the community advisory process (CAP) by becoming directly involved or by reaching out to your local CAP representatives.

For more information and project updates, visit our project Web site www.boardmantohemingway.com. I welcome continued dialogue so we may produce the best outcome for all involved.

David Angell is Idaho Power's delivery planning manager. He participates in the development of regional electric plans and is responsible for the Boardman to Hemingway community advisory process.