Feb. 16--A two-year moratorium on building coal-fired power plants in Idaho was approved for further discussion by a legislative committee. The ban on permitting, licensing or building coal- fired generating stations until April 1, 2008, had been rejected by the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee last week. The draft was resubmitted by sponsor Rep. Sharon Block, R-Twin Falls, after she removed portions that had raised objections -- including a provision that made applying for a permit during the moratorium a felony. Block said her constituents in the Magic Valley are concerned that state regulators do not have enough information on the potential health effects of coal-fired power plants to make informed decisions on permit requests.

California- based Sempra Energy has applied for permits to build a $1 billion coal-fired plant in Jerome County -- a proposal that has generated opposition in the downwind Magic Valley and Sun Valley areas. "A hasty decision made before all sides of the issue are heard and before all factual information is known may be a decision we later regret," Block told the committee.