Nov 25 - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Michelle Dunlop The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho

Legislators and locals alike are making a concerted effort these days to learn as much as they can about the coal-fired power plant proposed for Jerome County.

And, they want to educate others, too.

"I'm concerned," said Rep. Sharon Block, R- Twin Falls. "There obviously are possible adverse affects to human health from coal-fired power plants."

At Monday's Twin Falls City Council meeting, Block circulated copies of a report on the contaminants produced by coal-fired power plants and the impact those contaminants might have on human health. Block recently requested the information from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Health.

"As chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee, I care about the health of the people of Idaho," Block said.

Block's husband, Bill, also put in an appearance at the Council meeting as a member of a newly formed group of doctors, engineers and political leaders opposed to Sempra Generation's plans to build a 600-megawatt coal-fire power plant in Jerome County. The group asked City Council to take a position on the $1.4 billion power plant.

Several members of the group already have been approached about making presentations at public meetings across the valley, Bill Block said, on Wednesday. In fact, Block will serve as a panelist at two public forums hosted onin Blaine County by Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, and Rep. Donna Pence, D-Gooding. The first meeting will be held at 5 p.m. at the Sun Valley Inn's Limelight Room, and the second begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Rotary Room of Hailey's Community Campus.

The lack of a state oversight in the siting of large energy facilities will be among the topics discussed at the Blaine County meetings. In October, Stennett drafted legislation that would have established such authority, but an interim committee did not adopt the measure. So, Stennett is taking his efforts to the general public.

"Part of what we're doing here is to get people fired up," he said. "We want to let them know what they can do."

Sempra officials have also been making the rounds lately, hosting three open houses last week and making a number presentations in the area.