KETCHUM -- Three local legislators head to Boise this week to discuss the
possibility of state oversight for locating new energy-generating facilities.
Sens. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, and Tom Gannon, R-Buhl, and Rep. Maxine Bell,
R-Jerome, who are members of an interim energy committee, are interested in
what the state's role should be in locating such facilities as the one San
Diego-based Sempra Generation is proposing in Jerome County. The company is
considering construction of a 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant.
On June 6, Jerome County commissioners granted Sempra permission to set up a
meteorological tower and weather station northeast of Jerome. The company will
collect information about precipitation, wind speed and temperature. Sempra
also plans to monitor the level of existing air pollutants such a sulfur
dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and ozone.
Though the energy company faces a lengthy permitting process if it decides to
go forward with an Idaho facility, all three legislators say the state can
play a larger role in that process.
Stennett said he's pushing for legislation that would affect Sempra, even
though the company has already cleared its first hurdle.
"If we can get an energy siting law in place with an emergency clause
early in the legislative session, I believe Sempra would fall into the
jurisdiction of that new law," he said.
An eight-term legislator, Stennett was pro-active during the 2005 legislative
session in trying to craft such legislation. His draft legislation required
input from a committee comprised of state agencies and officials from
neighboring counties before a major energy facility could be approved by local
officials. Stennett also suggested a state-sanctioned moratorium on new
facilities until a state siting committee has weighed in.
"That way it wouldn't be just three county commissioners sitting around a
table cutting a deal," Stennett said.
But he never unveiled the legislation before the session ended because he
couldn't get all of the state's major energy companies on board.
So, Stennett, who represents four of Jerome County's neighboring counties,
recently re-joined the interim committee specifically to address questions
about Sempra, he said.
Gannon said he doesn't know much about coal-fired plants such as the one
Sempra is proposing. Therefore, "one of our responsibilities as an
interim energy committee in making recommended legislation is to call in the
scientific community and get up to speed on coal-fired plants," he said.
At the minimum, the state would provide scientific information to counties
that are considering large energy facilities, he said.
Bell, who lives in Jerome County, said she is interested in the idea of a
state siting committee to provide information to local officials.
"But I think you'd have to be very cautious that you don't overstep local
control," she said.
Times-News writer Julie Pence can be reached at 735-3241 or by e-mail at
jpence@magicvalley.com.