NEWS ARCHIVE   
08/23/10 - August 2010 Newsletter
Our latest project newsletter has been distributed by mail and/or e-mail to landowners and interested parties. Please view the newsletter online or request a copy. To receive future newsletters and project updates, please join our mailing list.
08/03/10 - BLM Announces draft EIS Schedule Change
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a schedule change for the release of the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Gateway West Transmission Line Project. The draft is now scheduled to be released later this year. Click here to view the BLM’s press release in full.
07/07/10 - Did you know?
The tower structures will be lifted onto their foundations using a large crane specifically designed for tower construction. In some locations, it will be necessary to set structures using a helicopter. Watch our video illustrating the typical construction sequence.
06/16/10 - Transmission lines and irrigated farmland
Agricultural activities are important economically and historically in parts of the Gateway West project area. Learn more about how transmission lines and agriculture co-exist.
05/21/10 - Did you know?
Access roads approximately 14 feet wide will be built to accommodate equipment and materials during construction. Watch our video illustrating the typical construction sequence.
05/03/10 - Did you know?
You can search for parcels within the study corridor by owner name or parcel number. Find your parcel using our landowner search.
04/19/10 - Gateway West aims to meet growing energy needs
The new Gateway West transmission line will provide electricity for the growing needs of Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power customers and increase the reliability of the region’s electrical system. Learn more about the purpose, need and details of the project.
04/12/10 - Idaho Power and PacifiCorp Sign a Memorandum of Understanding
Idaho Power and PacifiCorp announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning previous and future energy project agreements between the companies. PacifiCorp does business as Rocky Mountain Power in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho and as Pacific Power in Oregon, Washington and northern California. For more information, please read the companies’ press release announcing the MOU.
03/22/10 - Did you know?
The initial stringing of the transmission line wire will be done using a helicopter. Watch our video illustrating the typical construction sequence.
03/12/10 - Hemingway Transmission Station
Want to know more about the Hemingway Transmission Station project? Please visit our Idaho Power – Other Projects page for a link to information about this project and others.
03/03/10 - Companies share comments with BLM
All comments received by the companies are submitted to the Bureau of Land Management for inclusion in the environmental impact statement (EIS) analysis. Learn more about the environmental review process.
02/18/10 - Did you know?
There are five different types of tower structures that could be used for this project. Learn more about potential tower designs.
02/02/10 - 2008-2009 outreach summary
From 2008-2009, the project team hosted approximately 40 public meetings, in addition to participating in over 150 formal and informal meetings at the request of stakeholders and interested parties. In total, we met with almost 2,000 landowners and residents along the corridor, had nearly 6,000 visitors to the project Web site and collected nearly 1,200 comments.
01/04/10 - Bureau of Land Management announces proposed and alternate routes
The Bureau of Land Management announced today the proposed and alternate routes that will be analyzed in the draft environmental impact statement. Related materials: Project press release (PDF, 48 KB), Bureau of Land Management interactive map.
12/11/09 - Route Update
The project team has requested the BLM modify the segment 1E proposed and alternate routes to be considered in the draft EIS. View our latest project map for details and look for the BLM’s announcement on routes to be considered in early January.
11/25/09 - Two Community Meetings Announced for December
The project team would like to announce two community meetings – Malta, ID (December 14) and Almo, ID (December 15). Please join us as we discuss general project updates and route alignments. For more information about times and locations, please visit our online calendar. We look forward to seeing you there!
11/13/09 - Updated Landowner Maps Now Available
Updated maps are now available on our landowner maps page. Also, please visit the map updates page for constraints and project overview maps used at recent public meetings.
11/05/09 - Please Join Us Next Week!
Join the project team as we host three community meetings next week – Twin Falls, ID (November 9), Mountain Home, ID (November 10) and Kuna, ID (November 12). For more information about times and locations, please visit our online calendar. We look forward to seeing you there!
11/04/09 - Reminder: Upcoming Community Meetings This Week!
Please join us as the project team hosts two community meetings this week - American Falls, ID (November 4) and Kemmerer, WY (November 5). For more information about times and locations, please visit our online calendar. We look forward to seeing you there!
10/28/09 - Three Additional Community Meetings Announced for November
The project team is excited to announce three additional community meetings – Twin Falls, ID (November 9), Mountain Home, ID (November 10), and Kuna, ID (November 12). Please join us as we discuss general project updates and route alignments. For more information about times and locations, please visit our online calendar. We look forward to seeing you there!
10/19/09 - Two Community Meetings Announced for November
The project team is excited to announce two community meetings – American Falls, ID (November 4) and Kemmerer, WY (November 5). Please join us as we discuss general project updates and route alignments. For more information about times and locations, please visit our online calendar. We look forward to seeing you there!
09/25/09 - Updated Maps Now Available
Updated maps including conceptual routes presented at recent public meetings are now available. New maps are available by segment on our updates page and updated search features are available for landowner maps.
09/18/09 - Updated Landowner Maps
Updated landowner maps that include newly developed conceptual routes presented at recent public meetings will be available online early next week. Check back soon for more details.
08/28/09 - Wyoming Public Meetings
The project team will host public meetings in four Wyoming communities in September – September 14 (Wheatland), September 15 (Medicine Bow), September 16 (Laramie) and September 17 (Douglas). Please visit our online calendar for times and locations.
07/28/09 - Project newsletter online and in the mail

Our first project newsletter is being distributed by mail and / or e-mail to landowners and other interested parties. If you have not received a copy please view the newsletter online, request a copy or join our mailing list.

07/20/09 - Bureau of Land Management allows time to consider additional alternatives

In response to requests from local government officials and the public, reasonable alternatives developed between now and September 04, 2009 will be analyzed in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), now slated for release in spring 2010. Related press releases: Gateway West Project (PDF, 123KB), Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal, Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter

07/09/09 - Upcoming Public Meeting Opportunities

We will soon be joining County Commissioners and their respective communities in Twin Falls, Elmore, Power, Jerome and Gooding counties to discuss the project and answer questions. You can find more information as it becomes available on our new online calendar. We hope to see you there!

06/18/09 - Geotechnical Environmental Assessment Released

The BLM has released an environmental assessment for geotechnical drilling work needed to complete the draft environmental impact statement. For more information please visit the BLM Web site.

06/15/09 - Wilson Cemetery Fence is Complete

Idaho Power completes fence work on the historic Wilson Cemetery near Hemingway Substation.

For more information please visit Idaho Power News.

06/08/09 - Town Hall Meeting Scheduled in Kuna

Join us as we co-host a meeting with the Ada County Commission on June 11 in Kuna from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. to discuss the Gateway West project and get answers to questions specific to the county. This will be an opportunity for you to learn more about the project and find out how to stay involved as the project progresses.

Ada County Town Hall Meeting, co-hosted by the Ada County Commission, Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power Kuna, Idaho
June 11
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Kuna High School Commons
637 East Deer Flat Rd.

05/22/09 - Three public meetings set for early June

Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power will be in three Idaho communities in early June – June 1 (Cassia County Commissioner’s Meeting, Burley, ID), June 3 (Melba Community Conversation, Melba, ID) and June 11 (Ada County Town Hall Meeting, Kuna, ID). Go to the Newsroom for full details.

Cassia County Community Meeting, hosted by the Cassia County Commission
Burley, Idaho
June 1
2:00 p.m.
Burley High School Little Theater
2100 Park Ave.

Melba Community Conversation, hosted by Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power
Melba, Idaho
June 3
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Melba High School
6870 Stokes Ave.

Ada County Town Hall Meeting, co-hosted by the Ada County Commission, Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power
Kuna, Idaho
June 11
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Kuna High School Commons
637 Deer Flat Rd.

05/12/09 - Public meeting scheduled in Melba, ID for June 3 at 6:00 p.m.
Join us in Melba on June 3, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. to discuss this project, answer questions and gather comments focused on the Melba area. We are currently securing a location for this meeting – check back soon for meetings details as we get closer to June 3.
04/10/09 - Community Conversation in Douglas, WY set for April 20, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Join us on April 20 at the Best Western in Douglas, Wyoming (1450 Riverbend Dr.) to discuss the proposed and alternate routes along Segment 1E between the Windstar and Aeolus Substations. The open house portion of the meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m., with presentations and questions & answers to begin at 4:30 p.m. We hope it will be informative for all who attend.
03/09/09 - Gateway West corridor studies begin

Beginning in March 2009, Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power will begin environmental studies, including land surveys, documentation of cultural and environmental conditions and soil borings. These studies will help in the analysis of the proposed and alternative corridors and inform the draft environmental impact statement. In addition, the companies will also apply for all necessary permits and approvals from other federal, state and local agencies and jurisdictions.

Letters requesting right of entry are being mailed to landowners along the study corridor. These letters are going out to landowners along segments of the route as the corridor is studied. Please note that permission to enter private property for surveying and information gathering does not constitute a grant of future easement or that a transmission line will be constructed across the property, it is simply an allowance to conduct the studies. These studies do not mean a decision has been made on where to locate the transmission line.

If you have any questions about the studies and/or right of entry letters, please contact us.