Citizens' group forms to fight South Idaho coal-fired plant

[Thom Little]

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) -- Doctors, lawmakers, engineers and other citizens in this southcentral town are joining forces to oppose a proposed coal-burning plant because of health and pollution concerns.

"We all understand there needs to be more power," Bill Block, a Twin Falls engineer, told the City Council on Monday. "Our major concern is the selection of this site."

California-based Sempra Generation has proposed building a $1.4 billion, 600-megawatt power plant on a 640-acre site nine miles northeast of Jerome, about 110 miles east of Boise. Sempra estimates the plant will emit roughly 100 to 160 pounds of mercury annually. The company will use new technology to recover roughly 70 percent of emissions, officials say.

Sempra still needs to get zoning changes and permit approvals from Jerome County, as well as an air-emission permit from the state Department of Environmental Quality. Company officials say they could start building in 2008.

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