A massive electrical transmission line critical to Northwest environmentalists’ hopes for clean energy – and possibly for data center builders’ profit ambitions – was challenged in federal court Tuesday.
Construction of the $1.5 billion Boardman-to-Hemingway line — which starts in Boardman, Oregon, and ends in Melba, Idaho — started last year after nearly two decades of planning and negotiations, and has been widely viewed as a key component of Oregon’s wind — and solar — energy ambitions.
Malheur Mining Co. is suing to stop the transmission line from crossing federal land where the company says it has the right to mine for hundreds of millions of dollars worth of gold. The line’s eastern stretch is being built by Idaho Power, with the western portion being built by PacifiCorp,
The mining business says Idaho Power has already poured concrete on some of those sites…