AMERICAN FALLS — Pleasant Valley farmer Clarence Gohl has irrigation equipment that was damaged when a section of large transmission line owned by Idaho Power collapsed during a Sept. 1 windstorm. Pacific Corp., a parent company of Idaho Power, says it’s not responsible for an act of God “beyond our reasonable control.”

    Three 230 kilowatt power line structures had fallen due to the recent storm and damaged 20 feet of irrigation pipe and one wheel for a total cost of $2,765.

    Idaho Power insists it’s off the hook when it comes to the damages.

    The Gohls will now have to fill out a claim form and submit that to Idaho Power, putting the ball in the hands of the utility’s insurance company.

    “I don’t know why they are denying their responsibilities and then have to fight it,” said Clarence. “I just want them to take responsibility for their lines and there to be no more transmission lines through my property.”

    The Gohls discovered the power lines and poles were down in two of their fields when a farm worker could not travel down Rast Road due to a pole blocking the roadway. Clarence assessed the damage and notified Idaho Power.

    In a letter from Idaho Power, written by damage claims specialist Liz Haugee, she said Idaho Power can only pay for damages resulting from their negligence. They were, however, willing to pay for any damages their vehicles may cause driving across their property to repair the structures.

    This was not what the Gohls expected. They said they believe Idaho Power should pay the entire cost of their loss.

    “We want them to pay the bill and not have our insurance go up,” said Clarence’s wife, Virginia. “We also don’t want any more transmission lines going through our property.”

    The section of transmission line that collapsed in Gohl’s fields comes from the Borah substation and supplies power to the Idaho National Laboratory.

    The transmission lines the Gohls are speaking of include two separate projects. The Gateway project is through Idaho Power with the company out of Wyoming. The Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI) is part of North Western Energy out of Montana. Both projects are proposing to have transmission lines run through Power County leading into and out of the Borah substation.

    Doug Balfour is the attorney and representative for Power County and their Gateway Citizens Task Force, formed by the Power County Commissioners. Balfour stated one problem with the proposals is Idaho Power trying to go through private land and not paying for the land they would be using.

    “Back when my father farmed he was paid $500 a post,” said Clarence.

    Because of Idaho legislation, Idaho Power plans to utilize imminent domain to take the land for the transmission lines.

    Imminent domain was created by the government so they could take land and use it for the common good, like a highway. According to Balfour the Idaho Legislature has extended the definition of imminent domain to private power companies.

    “The MSTI project wanted to put their lines right parallel to the existing line,” said Balfour. “They have adjusted their original proposal, but it’s still going through private irrigated land all in the Pleasant Valley area.”

    Land affected by the Gateway project is located in the Rockland Valley and will end up at the Borah substation.

    Both projects are still moving forward and the Bureau of Land Management is currently conducting its environmental land analysis across the public lands and BLM ground for the environmental impact statement.

    “Power County is upset because the power companies are not taking into consideration the economic impact on the community,” said Balfour. “It’s hard to run a pivot with a transmission pole in the way and planes can’t spread with the high voltage wires.”

    Balfour said the task force is still fighting.

    The Gohls have lived and farmed in the Pleasant Valley area of Power County since 1971. Clarence’s father, Fred C. Gohl, bought the land on Rast Road in 1929 as a dry land farm and Clarence turned it into irrigated farmland for potatoes, sugar beets and grain.