Elmore County P&Z votes to change comprehensive plan
– By Linton Levy –
During a hearing Wednesday night, Elmore County Planning and Zoning Commissioners decided to recommend a change to the wording of the county's comprehensive plan.
The current plan requires industrial development to locate along Simco Road, which was a sticking point for a plan by Alternate Energy Holdings to build a nuclear power plant in another part of the county.
"This latest decison keeps the door open for a possible nuclear power plant in Elmore County and I believe it reflects the commissioners continued desire to keep our project in play. While AEHI's Payette County site is currently the lead location in idaho, we also welcome the news that Elmore County is taking such steps to increase the possibility for more economic development," said Don Gillispie, AEHI CEO.
During the meeting a nuclear power opponent requested the commissioners change the wording of the comprehensive plan in a way that would close the door to a nuclear power plant, which the commissioners refused.
The planned changes include expanding light industrial into areas of city impact and expanding heavy industrial into areas that "will not be detrimental to neighboring and existing land uses".
Those changes will be signed April 21st, after which they will go before the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.
Nuclear power has been recognized as a vital method to increase econimic viability especially in rural communities like those proposed in Elmore and Payette counties. AEHI's project is estimated to increase employment by more than 5,000 workers through construction, and more than 1,000 during operations.
The commercial benefit during construction is even more impressive, increasing the state's GDP by $5.8 billion, with $4.3 billion of that money filtering directly through the county.
About Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc.: (www.alternateenergyholdings.com) Alternate Energy Holdings develops and markets innovative clean energy sources. The company is the nation's only publicly traded independent nuclear power plant developer willing to build power plants in non-nuclear states. Other projects include, Energy Neutral which removes energy demands from homes and businesses (www.energyneutralinc.com), Colorado Energy Park (nuclear and solar generation), and International Reactors, which assists developing countries with nuclear reactors for power generation, production of potable water and other suitable applications. AEHI China, headquartered in Beijing, develops joint ventures to produce nuclear plant components and consults on nuclear power. AEHI Korea, Seoul, is helping negotiate with KEPCO.