Coal debate heats up in Idaho: Gasification proponents proceeding with plans

While plans for a Sempra coal-fired power plant in Jerome County were scuttled Wednesday, proponents of a coal gasification plant in Power County remain undaunted and unfettered.

Kent Rudeen, a member of the Power County Development Authority that’s overseeing progress on the proposed 520-megawatt facility at the former FMC site near Pocatello, said a two-year moratorium on coal-fired plants in Idaho isn’t discouraging in the least.

“Our plans were not dependent on whether Sempra was building a power plant or not,” Rudeen said. “We appreciate the fact the Legislature recognized there was a difference in plant design and plant outputs.

“This is a different horse.”

By Dan Boyd – Journal Writer

Full Story: http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2006/03/30/news/local/news01.txt

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Sempra won’t build coal-fired plant

Another company could try after two-year moratorium expires

Gregory Hahn
The Idaho Statesman

California-based Sempra Energy will not build a coal-fired power plant north of the Snake River near Jerome.

But the fight may not be over for Magic Valley residents who opposed the plant.

Sempra’s "Idaho Valley Energy Project" assets may be sold to another company with the same goal of generating coal power at the site.

Full Story: http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060330/NEWS06/603300356