On Thursday, April 15, our public utility commissioners will hold their final hearing on Idaho Power’s 2019 energy plan, which includes the B2H transmission line.

I’ve urged the Oregon Public Utility Commission to acknowledge issues of environmental justice when considering approval for the B2H transmission line. I believe Idaho Power is not shouldering the true environmental cost of the proposed B2H line, that Idaho Power is instead passing the cost of impacts to economically disadvantaged rural communities.

For instance, Idaho Power claims “no significant impact” for 150-foot transmission towers that would be built a few blocks from a beautiful mountain lake, the key feature of the cherished and historic city of La Grande Morgan Lake Park. If the B2H line impacted such a park in Portland, I do not believe it would be going forward.

Fire risks are another cost/hardship passed on to our fire vulnerable rural communities. Rural residents demand to be treated fairly and to have our environment considered and protected!

There are other options to building the B2H line, even if a transmission line is determined to be necessary. Concerned residents with STOP B2H have outlined many such alternatives at www.stopb2h.org. I’ve asked the commission to pursue these options, taking into account environmental justice issues and the true cost of the B2H transmission lines to economically disadvantaged rural communities.

Please consider doing the same before April 15. Email puc.hearings@state.or.us.

Kathryn Andrew

La Grande