Bonneville Power Administration is taking steps to ensure its system can continue to provide reliable electrical service to southeast Idaho and keep pace with the area's growth. The Palisades-Goshen project involves replacing wood poles that support 52 miles of high voltage transmission lines that extend from Palisades Dam to Goshen Substation just south of Shelley, Idaho.

"Without replacement, the wood poles would soon fail and take the line out of service, which could leave areas of southeast Idaho without power," said Larry Bekkedahl, BPA vice president of engineering. "In addition to ensuring current and future electric service to the area with this project, BPA has developed a construction plan with effective measures to protect the environment and habitat for local species."

BPA will begin replacing the existing wood pole structures with new ones this summer. The average life of a wood pole is 40 years. BPA is undertaking several wood pole replacement projects like this one, as over 50 percent of BPA's high voltage transmission lines were built before 1962.

Environmental protections that BPA is implementing include installing bird flight diverters to protect migratory birds and raptors, removing structures and roads from wetland areas, minimizing disturbance in sensitive habitat, and improving fish passage along Squaw Creek.