Unless you’ve been hanging out at Sleepy Hollow you will know that Idaho Power persists on building their unneeded Boardman to Hemingway power lines, a 250-foot-wide swath, 310 miles long through Eastern Oregon, requiring 440 miles of service roads.

You may also know the Oregon Department of Energy in late summer along with its gargoyle offspring — Energy Facility Siting Council — gave the project its green light.

This should be no surprise since Idaho Power pays ODOE to process its application. Unlike other state agencies, ODOE gets its funds from developers like Idaho Power who want another power line to benefit their shareholders.

The seven volunteer members of EFSC are appointed by the governor who has accepted IPC’s greenwashing of this project. All seven voted unanimously for the line. No surprise there. Who in their right mind would voluntarily want to read thousands of pages of legalese babble? Obviously, they didn’t.

“State-level oversight of energy facilities helps ensure that Oregon has an adequate energy supply while protecting Oregon’s environment and public safety,” the EFSC’s webpage declares. “A proposed energy facility must undergo a thorough review and meet the council’s siting standards. Standards cover issues such as land use, environmental impacts, noise concerns, and cultural and archeological artifacts.”

If this is EFSC’s mission, clearly EFSC did not heed their commandments when voting. To most issues, Idaho Power has either killed legally, or created misinformation concerning, or did not adequately address:

• Eminent domain. Taking people’s land.

• Loss of wildlife habitat. List of fish, birds and mammals whose habitats depend on unique ecosystems.

• Fire danger. Response is up to local volunteer fire departments.

• Spreading noxious weeds. There is no way they can build 440 miles of service roads without spreading weeds.

• Exceeded noise levels. Can only report after project has been completed.

• Unstable ground. From Grande Ronde Hospital up to Morgan Lake, route of power lines.

• Lack of safety. Such as two years of 75 trucks per day on Morgan Lake Road. Includes only access to houses in area with 16% grade and no sidewalks or guardrails.

• Defacing the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Towers that are 130 feet tall with power lines will cross the center’s viewscape ruining the experience of walking the trail.

• Crossing the old Oregon Trail 18 times, desecrating it along with our heritage.

In the self-serving methodology that Idaho Power created, they concluded in every issue that B2H would have “less than significant adverse impact.”

Other than a visit to the Oregon Supreme Court — in process — there remains a government channel last chance. Oregon Public Utility Commission, which is not funded by Idaho Power, still has to vote on this issue. As part of its review, the PUC will “consider whether the power lines will be operated in a way that protects the public from danger; whether the proposed route is practical and feasible; whether the public benefits and costs justify the project and other factors the PUC deem relevant under the law.”

So far, the PUC seem well-tuned to B2H’s shortcomings. They are aware that Idaho Power shareholders will receive about 10% guaranteed profits from construction of the B2H while ratepayers will be responsible for the $1.2 billion costs. It’s essential to encourage OPUC Commissioners to protect Oregonians from this profiteering out-of-state corporation and vote “No.”

You must comment very soon (the next deadline is Jan. 10, 2023). Email PUC.PublicComments@puc.oregon.gov.

Whit Deschner

Baker City