Crook County to send revised letter on Pacific Power transmission project after weeks of public concern

Crook County commissioners voted to send a revised letter to Pacific Power stating general support for getting more electricity into the county but demanding that route choices minimize disruption to private irrigated lands and prioritize public lands and existing large transmission corridors.

The vote followed more than three hours of public comment from residents, farmers and ranchers who said Pacific Power’s proposed routes and substations could take private land, affect irrigation and views, and lower property values. “The fact that it goes in the same place does not mean they’re using the same path,” said Annette Kolodziej, who urged the county to press Pacific Power for details about line widths, separation from existing towers and substation siting. “You have to ask the commission to fight harder for us in terms of making sure that the benefit and the burden are equal,” she said.

Why it matters: Commissioners and many speakers said Crook County needs additional power to serve growth and businesses but that being engaged early preserves the county’s ability to shape where lines are built. Commissioner Seth Crawford said the county should get “a seat at the table” during siting discussions and noted the public comment deadline for Pacific Power’s current outreach was May 9.

What commissioners decided: The board directed staff to revise the draft letter to make the county’s concerns explicit (including opposition to routing that would run across irrigated private lands or through neighborhoods) and to submit the revised letter as a county comment outside the meeting record, with sign-off by commissioners after the edits. Commissioner Seth Crawford moved to proceed; the motion was seconded and approved.

Public concerns: Residents raised a long list of technical and local impacts they said remain unclear, including whether the new towers would require a wider corridor than existing lines, whether electromagnetic or induction effects could affect irrigated pivots, where substations would be sited and how much of the new capacity would serve Crook County versus other counties. “We just don’t know,” said Karen Jones, a Parish Lane resident. “I still have serious concerns about submitting a letter at all at this point.”

County staff and commissioners said the revised letter is intended as a placeholder to ensure Crook County is consulted during route selection and to demand alternatives that minimize impacts. Commissioner Brian (last name not specified) said the board can modify its position as more technical information becomes available.

What’s next: Staff will revise the draft to make the county’s stance and limits clearer, circulate the text to the commissioners for sign-off, and submit it to Pacific Power during the current comment window. Commissioners also invited Pacific Power and residents to continued site visits and further conversations during the company’s planning process.

Ending: County leaders emphasized the letter is not an approval of any specific route; commissioners said the board reserves the right to oppose or condition future permitting decisions once technical plans and route maps are available.