Company talks about power line Plan

The Montana-based power company planning a large power-line project through eastern Idaho is responding to concerns from Bingham County residents on Monday.

On Sunday, our station spoke to one Bingham County farmer who said a couple of NorthWestern Energy’s proposed power-line routes will slice right though area farms and private property.

The community is planning a public meeting to officially denounce proposed routes 5-C and 5-D to run the Mountain States Transmission Intertie straight through Bingham County to Jerome.

On Monday, NorthWestern Energy responded to the concerns. “I think the important thing to recognize is there has been no decision on the preferred route made yet,” said NorthWestern Energy project manager Tom Pamkratz.

The company stressed the planning process is nowhere near complete.

NorthWestern Energy said there are many different factors involved in planning a route with the least impact.”We’ve been meeting with this group, we’re certainly supportive of the group and we’re going to continue to work with them to try to address their concerns,” said Pamkratz.

The Bingham County opposition group will meet Thursday, June 7, at Snake River Junior High School at 7 p.m.