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Stop B2H Coalition
Quick Updates on Three Strategies... (10/25/2020)
Hi folks,
Just a quick FYI because so much happened last week on 3 of our major strategies… We hope this informs you well. If you have specific questions or something isn’t clear, please ask, OK? info@stopb2h.org Stay safe & don’t forget to Vote!
Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC):
--Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) and Idaho Power continue to confuse and frustrate in the contested case which opened in August. ODOE and EFSC have (seemingly) been successful in exempting and modifying the rules of procedure for the case. While the state is playing around with the rule exemptions, Idaho Power is in a big rush to get the contested case done quickly. They have proposed a ridiculously rushed schedule—especially for normal people. We are 50 contested case “petitioners” (all of us are STOP B2H-ers!)
We recently hired an attorney team in Portland with some EFSC experience (they are hard to find, because attorneys with EFSC experience generally work for the industry.) Our attorneys are working on these procedural issues and the schedule, and we haven’t even gotten to the substantive issues yet! Fortunately, our Stop B2H Contested Case (team) of 50 petitioners are really the experts on the negative impacts of the B2H and will stay very involved so nothing gets left behind.
--By the 29th of this month the Administrative Law Judge for the EFSC Contested Case process will be issuing her order regarding: who gets “party status” and on what particular issues. We will ONLY have 7 days from the time she issues her order to file a “request for reconsideration.” Then, EFSC, at their Nov meeting (19-20th) will hear these requests (aka appeals.) The EFSC meetings are public and so interested folks can listen/observe. The agenda and link to call-in will be posted here: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities-safety/facilities/Pages/Council-Meetings.aspx
Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC):
--The OPUC docket for Idaho Power’s “2019 second-amended integrated resource plan” (IRP), re-opened again this week – after 5 delays! Some of you commented to the OPUC in April 2020, via a remote hearing. But then the docket was “paused.” Idaho Power still does not have a partner that has signed on to the construction agreement for the B2H!
We had meetings and a worksession this week with interveners and the OPUC; the docket schedule has not been set yet. We felt very good about our questions and think it was obvious to the OPUC staff that Idaho Power was withhold information or they simply don’t know about their B2H partners and financing. Stay tuned! This is just FYI for now. But there will be hearings and comment periods for the OPUC this winter/spring.
Federal NEPA lawsuit: (National Environmental Protection Act):
--Per the court schedule, last week, “the government” (i.e.: Bureau of Land Management) has filed its rebuttals to our opening brief. They are trying to strike our case via a summary judgment. Our attorneys have until Nov 20th to respond but they remain optimistic and said that they were not surprised at all by what has been filed. We guess it’s all part of “the game?” We will report more as we learn the details.
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Get Involved!
Stop B2H Outreach Team is meeting on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 4:30 on Zoom! We'll send you an invite if you'd like to attend. Send us an note: info@stopb2h.org
Take Action
- It’s time (always) to raise our voices to our public officials.
- DONATE Now: Be a part of our winning team! Support us and keep alert for news on our federal lawsuit, the contested case process with ODOE/EFSC, and the dockets in Oregon and Idaho's Public Utilities Commissions.
Via Check, payable to: Stop B2H Coalition, 60366 Marvin Rd, La Grande, OR 97850. Or, Click here to donate; or Via Credit Card or Pay Pal.
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Thank You!
Of course, please forward to interested family and friends who may not be on our mailing list. Tell them to sign up on our website stopb2h.org "Join Us!"
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Stop B2H Coalition, grassroots people fighting to STOP
a 300 mile invasive 500kv transmission line across Eastern Oregon
Protect Our Land; Preserve Our Heritage
www.stopb2h.org
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