Oregon Public Broadcasting

The nuclear power industry has seen a renaissance in the last few years.  But it has mostly bypassed the Northwest -- except for one project about 65 miles southeast of Boise. 

A proposed commercial nuclear plant there is generating heavy static in surrounding towns.  Wednesday night hundreds of people jammed a county rezoning hearing that could make-or-break the nuclear power proposal.  Correspondent Tom Banse reports from Mountain Home, Idaho.

A small Idaho company led by semi-retired utility executives has proposed this $5 billion nuclear power plant.  It would go on farm land along the Snake River. 

The developer figured out a surefire way in these tough times to draw a supportive crowd to the county seat of Mountain Home.  Announce that you’re accepting resumes and letters of interest for future job openings.

The nuclear company called Alternate Energy Holdings says it collected at least 400 resumes in one afternoon.  People wearing suits line up next to others in jeans and cowboy hats.  Still others wear T-shirts.

Underemployed construction worker Jeff Pollich sees a big opportunity here.

Jeff Pollich: “For the future like Obama says we’ve gotta go green and start representing ourselves, not worrying about foreign oil.  To me, it’s a win-win.  I mean who doesn’t want a good job.  And seems like it’s going to be a good job when it gets going.”

When the line of job seekers dwindles away, nuclear plant opponents wielding picket signs take over the sidewalk.

Legal secretary Tracy Lauric wonders what will happen to the nuclear waste.

Tracy Lauric: “Nuclear power isn’t really green power.  It may have zero emissions, but it is not classified by the classic list or definition as green power.  The waste from this plant is not green.”

A short time later, both crowds move inside a junior high school cafeteria, where yet more Idahoans join them.  The occasion is a special meeting of the Elmore County Commission. 

The narrow matter before it whether to rezone a 1,300 acre hay and alfalfa farm into an industrial zone.  But most everyone here leaps two steps ahead to testify about the desirability of nuclear power.

It’s neighbor versus neighbor, farmer against farmer, long-distance commuters versus stay-at-home retirees.

Jesse Lee: “We really need to do something to fix our economy up a whole lot better, power and so on.  Somebody is going to build a nuclear power plant someplace in the United States. We might as well have it here so we can get all the money instead.”

That’s Mountain Home resident Jesse Lee.

Organic farmer Dorian Duffin is on the other side.

Dorian Duffin: “Plopping a heavy industrial zone in the center of our farm community will permanently change Hammett from a small close-knit community to a boom-bust economy with trailer parks, subdivisions, strip malls replacing our productive farms forever.”

Preservation of prime farmland and worries about the amount of cooling water the nuclear plant might use repeatedly bump up against the prospect of jobs, jobs, jobs.   In addition, Boise business owner Tom Blasingame looks forward to the affordable, reliable power a nuke plant might provide.

Tom Blasingame: “Unless we’re going to have twisted rubber bands to provide the power, we’re going to need something to do that. I think you’re very fortunate to have the opportunity to select nuclear power.”

Diana Hooley:  “Idaho has periodic drought as you know.  Who would lose their water first if drought limited usage?”

Diana Hooley is sure farmers like her would get shorted before a nuclear plant would.

The fate of the power plant now rests with the three elected Elmore County commissioners.  They kept studiously neutral expressions throughout more than four hours of testimony.   They indicate they’re in no hurry to take a vote.  

Then, it’s anyone’s guess whether or not they’ll favor moving ahead with the first new nuclear plant in the Northwest in decades.

Online:
 
Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc.
 
Elmore County Government
 
Snake River Alliance
 
Energy for Elmore