Hundreds Sound Off on Proposed Idaho Nuclear Plant

Tom Banse
11/20/2009

Residents of southwest Idaho appear sharply divided over a proposed new nuclear power plant near the Oregon–Idaho border. Thursday night, around 250 people filled a high school auditorium for an initial public hearing on the project. Regional Correspondent Tom Banse reports from Payette, Idaho

A small Idaho company called Alternate Energy Holdings is proposing a large commercial nuclear power plant on a private ranchland in rural Payette County. Payette resident Kent Porter was one of dozens of locals who testified they'd welcome a nuclear plant.

Kent Porter: "Someday if we don't get cheap power to keep our farmers going, we're all going to pay dearly when our food prices go up."

But many other residents, like Graham Borge, said a nuclear plant would ruin the area's rural character and quality of life.

Graham Borge: "Have you ever heard of the downwinders? Don't be sold on a lot of these things because people say there are going all these great jobs and a lot of money to our economy. They're not going to be our local kids that get jobs out at these facilities."

The Payette County Planning and Zoning Commission will take more testimony and then deliberate next month. A similar proposal is also pending near Mountain Home, Idaho. Ultimately, a new reactor needs approval from federal regulators. I'm Tom Banse in Payette, Idaho.

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