03/23/06 Moratorium; Snake Plain aquifer recharge

The Idaho Senate now gets a turn to deal with a proposed two year moratorium on coal-fired electricity plants. With only five dissenting votes the House passed a bill that would temporarily stop Sempra Energy of San Diego from building a plant near Jerome. Magic Valley residents say they want more studies, they need to know more about potential pollution and many agree with outgoing House Speaker Bruce Newcomb who wants to make sure the agricultural base of the area is not harmed. Sempra hints that it may go elsewhere if a moratorium is imposed. Also on the subject of energy Idaho Power is talking about a lawsuit should the legislature pass an aquifer recharge bill. The Newcomb sponsored bill earmarks some Snake River water for the Snake Plain aquifer recharge at the expense of hydropower production. Idaho Power Company says such legislation would violate the 1984 Swan Falls agreement between the company and the state of Idaho and a 1994 law that says hydro generation is not secondary to aquifer recharge. In a letter to its customers Idaho Power CEO LaMont Keen says recharge is possible this year but is should be 'done responsibly.' Idaho Power says if this legislation is approves its customers will have to foot some of the bill. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott