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Plant generating water controversy
Bonanza area farmers' concerns grow over power plant plans
published April 20, 2003
By JENNIFER BATES
It's about the water.
Is there enough for both a 1,500-megawatt power plant and some 200 family farms in the Langell Valley area?
Farmers say there isn't.
After two years of planning and review, the proposed California Oregon Border power plant is close to getting an operating permit.
For farmers in the area, the Langell Valley is a perfect agricultural environment. The soil is rich for growing alfalfa and grass hay crops, the snow-capped foothills surrounding the valley provide shelter from harsh weather for cattle, and it's a beautiful and quiet place to live.
There is just one hitch. Water is in short supply, and getting a well permit is nearly impossible.
Power plant developers see the same beautiful Langell Valley differently. It has a natural gas line running through it, BPA power transmission lines to carry the energy to market, a 1,500-foot-deep well that can pump up to 7.7 million gallons of water per day - enough water to cool four natural gas-fired turbines that would generate 600 megawatts of electricity. Steam created in the process would generate an additional 550 megawatts of power.
For two years, farmers in the valley have been telling state officials that the permitting process for the power plant is unfair.
Carl and Susie Gibson can see the proposed power plant site from just about anywhere on their farm in Langell Valley.
About 10 years ago, they applied for a well permit. They are still waiting.
In the meantime, they have watched People's Energy Resource Corp. of Chicago sail through the well permit process in a quarter of that time,
"It is outrageous and unfair," said Susie Gibson.
She and her husband have farmed in the valley for 28 years. They grow alfalfa and grass hay, oats and barley. They also raise a small herd of beef cattle. Together, they raised two children.
Carl Gibson said the power plant, using 8,000 acre-feet of ground water per year, will devastate the valley.
"It isn't right. It's mining our water. They just walk in here and get a permit while we wait," he said.
At least 30 farmers have applied for well permits and are waiting. Others have been denied a permit pending the results of water studies exploring the impact of Langell Valley wells on the water for the city of Bonanza.
To irrigate crops and raise cattle, farmers in the area created an irrigation district, and also use existing wells.
The Langell Valley Irrigation District receives its water from Clear Lake in Modoc County and Gerber Reservoir, about 20 miles northeast of the valley. Water from the district costs farmers about $13 per acre-foot.
The Gibson's are allotted about 200 acre-feet per year. They say the cost of water will go up when the district has to start paying for litigation over water rights with the power companies.
Just south of the Gibsons' farm is where Mario and Diana Giordano have been farming and raising a family for 26 years.
The Giordanos applied for a well permit, spent $40,000 drilling a 600-foot-deep well, and then were denied the permit because further testing was required.
"They want to see if our well impacts the water source for the city of Bonanza," said Mario Giordano.
After being denied, watching the COB power project, with its 1,500 ft deep well, move forward with a permit recommendation upsets the Giordanos.
"I think they should go back to Chicago," said Diana Giordano.
Mario Giordano said there isn't enough water here without the power plant.
"The COB project will devastate 200 farms," he said.
State officials will visit Langell Valley this week to inform farmers on how to participate in the power plant siting process.
Officials will conduct a workshop on the Oregon Office of Energy's Siting Council process, rules and standards. The purpose of the workshop is to explain how people can participate in the process most effectively.
The meeting is open to the public and will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lorella Community Hall. For more information about the meeting call Catherine Van Horn at the Office of Energy, (800) 221-8035, or contact her by e-mail at cathrine.vanhorn@state.or.us.
• • •
Reporter Jennifer Bates covers local and state government. She can be reached at 885-4415 or (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at jbates@heraldandnews.com.
• • •
Workshop planned
Officials will conduct a workshop on the Oregon Office of Energy's Siting Council process, rules and standards.
The meeting is open to the public and will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lorella Community Hall.
published April 20, 2003
By JENNIFER BATES
It's about the water.
Is there enough for both a 1,500-megawatt power plant and some 200 family farms in the Langell Valley area?
Farmers say there isn't.
After two years of planning and review, the proposed California Oregon Border power plant is close to getting an operating permit.
For farmers in the area, the Langell Valley is a perfect agricultural environment. The soil is rich for growing alfalfa and grass hay crops, the snow-capped foothills surrounding the valley provide shelter from harsh weather for cattle, and it's a beautiful and quiet place to live.
There is just one hitch. Water is in short supply, and getting a well permit is nearly impossible.
Power plant developers see the same beautiful Langell Valley differently. It has a natural gas line running through it, BPA power transmission lines to carry the energy to market, a 1,500-foot-deep well that can pump up to 7.7 million gallons of water per day - enough water to cool four natural gas-fired turbines that would generate 600 megawatts of electricity. Steam created in the process would generate an additional 550 megawatts of power.
For two years, farmers in the valley have been telling state officials that the permitting process for the power plant is unfair.
Carl and Susie Gibson can see the proposed power plant site from just about anywhere on their farm in Langell Valley.
About 10 years ago, they applied for a well permit. They are still waiting.
In the meantime, they have watched People's Energy Resource Corp. of Chicago sail through the well permit process in a quarter of that time,
"It is outrageous and unfair," said Susie Gibson.
She and her husband have farmed in the valley for 28 years. They grow alfalfa and grass hay, oats and barley. They also raise a small herd of beef cattle. Together, they raised two children.
Carl Gibson said the power plant, using 8,000 acre-feet of ground water per year, will devastate the valley.
"It isn't right. It's mining our water. They just walk in here and get a permit while we wait," he said.
At least 30 farmers have applied for well permits and are waiting. Others have been denied a permit pending the results of water studies exploring the impact of Langell Valley wells on the water for the city of Bonanza.
To irrigate crops and raise cattle, farmers in the area created an irrigation district, and also use existing wells.
The Langell Valley Irrigation District receives its water from Clear Lake in Modoc County and Gerber Reservoir, about 20 miles northeast of the valley. Water from the district costs farmers about $13 per acre-foot.
The Gibson's are allotted about 200 acre-feet per year. They say the cost of water will go up when the district has to start paying for litigation over water rights with the power companies.
Just south of the Gibsons' farm is where Mario and Diana Giordano have been farming and raising a family for 26 years.
The Giordanos applied for a well permit, spent $40,000 drilling a 600-foot-deep well, and then were denied the permit because further testing was required.
"They want to see if our well impacts the water source for the city of Bonanza," said Mario Giordano.
After being denied, watching the COB power project, with its 1,500 ft deep well, move forward with a permit recommendation upsets the Giordanos.
"I think they should go back to Chicago," said Diana Giordano.
Mario Giordano said there isn't enough water here without the power plant.
"The COB project will devastate 200 farms," he said.
State officials will visit Langell Valley this week to inform farmers on how to participate in the power plant siting process.
Officials will conduct a workshop on the Oregon Office of Energy's Siting Council process, rules and standards. The purpose of the workshop is to explain how people can participate in the process most effectively.
The meeting is open to the public and will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lorella Community Hall. For more information about the meeting call Catherine Van Horn at the Office of Energy, (800) 221-8035, or contact her by e-mail at cathrine.vanhorn@state.or.us.
• • •
Reporter Jennifer Bates covers local and state government. She can be reached at 885-4415 or (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at jbates@heraldandnews.com.
• • •
Workshop planned
Officials will conduct a workshop on the Oregon Office of Energy's Siting Council process, rules and standards.
The meeting is open to the public and will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lorella Community Hall.
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