Idaho Transmission Line Project: Feds Taking Input

BOISE, ID — The federal Bureau of Land Management is taking comments for the next month on proposed routes for a pair of high-voltage transmission lines in southwestern Idaho that are supposed to help modernize the Pacific Northwest's energy grid.

Federal officials announced Monday they'll take comments through Sept. 27 for two segments of the Gateway West project proposed by Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power.

The federal agency in January approved routes for the two 500-kilovolt transmission lines. But a new Idaho law signed in May requires segments not connected to that route. The legislation removes 2,800 acres from the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area so 74 miles of transmission lines can go through. (For more information on the transmission lines and other Boise stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The BLM is now trying to connect the remaining 250 miles of transmission lines with those segments.

By KEITH RIDLER, Associated Press

Image via Shutterstock