Power Line to West Idaho Coming in Six or More Years

ONTARIO, Ore. (AP) — Idaho Power Co. says a proposed line to carry electricity from the Columbia River region across Eastern Oregon to western Idaho is not expected to be in service until 2020 or later. The Ontario Argus Observer reports the utility company published its estimate in a newsletter. Idaho Power's preliminary state application in Oregon said the high-voltage line would be 305 miles long: 281 miles in Oregon, beginning at Boardman, and 24 in Idaho, ending at Melba. The company says it doesn't have enough transmission capacity to buy more power during peak use on the western side of its system. The state siting agency is reviewing the application. Some farmers and ranchers have objected to putting the line on land zoned exclusively for farms.