By Journal Staff

    Northwestern Energy has pulled the plug on a planned power transmission line from Montana across southern Idaho that may have cut across portions of Bingham, Power and Cassia counties. The energy company has abandoned its $24 million Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI) project.

    Power County's commissioners celebrated the news.

    “This is an important development for Power County and our agricultural economy,” said Power County commission chairwoman Vicki Meadows. “The MSTI project had the potential to severely, negatively impact many Pleasant Valley farmers.”

    The project had called for construction of a 1,500 megawatt electric transmission line, spanning approximately 430 miles.   It would have deliver electricity generated in Montana to customers in other western states. The project would have started near Townsend, Mont. and ended near Jerome.

    After funding studies on alternative routes and running into opposition in Idaho, Northwestern Energy has abandoned the project and filed documents killing the project on Oct. 4. Northwestern cited its inability to get permits to build the line and changes in market conditions as reasons for withdrawing from the project.

    “This shows that a committed coalition such as we have with our landowners and Cassia County can achieve some good,” Meadows said. “This does not mean we can let our guard down as there are many other projects proceeding or proposed that could cause the same problems that MSTI threatened.

    Power County is currently opposing a route for the Gateway Project from Idaho Power Company that could run a high-voltage line up the Rockland Valley and across prime farmland near American Falls.