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firmrebuilding the Thompson Falls power plant regardless of whathappens at Kerr and Buffalo Rapids,” George O’Connor, vice president of the Montana Power Co., told 28 local citizens at a public meeting Wednesday night.The meeting in the court house was arranged by theThompson Falls-Noxon Chamber of Commerce to permit utility representatives to explain their Buffalo Rapids proposals. A_ a • *11 I _ _ - - - - a -«• ^ 4Falls power plant.O’Connor explained that MPC filed an application in October 1958 with the Federal Power commission for a new 50-year license and a permit to remodel its local plant. Simultaneously, the utility also asked for a new 50-year license on its Kerr plant, so that licenses of both plantswould run concurrently. O’Connor said the FPC immediately rejected the Kerr portion ofthe application, but accepted theuftheF near’future**tor he aaid theFallsmittee for Paradise Dam to ex- utility had not pressed the plain the Knowles dam propos- Thompson Falls applicationI •• «______ _ J U...UU ar*S c enn H Urson acted as “with as much dilgence as we ais. Gie n 'might otherwise have” becausemoderator.While O’Connor’s opening marks were devoted to Buffalo require reconstruction of theRapids it quickly became evid- plant here without granting aent^ from questions asked from new license. He explained that eni irum not he economicallyleresttoe'ItoZ Vni I SaWwith only 14 years «oRIVER FLOW REACHESgo on the present license.It would take about 2% years to reconstruct the local plant.O’Connor said construction of Buffalo Rapids 2 and 4 wouldcomplement the redevelopmentof the Thompson Falls plant. “Montana Power wants to know what is going to happen in the river above Thompson Falls before redeveloping the planthere, so we will know how to rebuild the plant with the water available. Construction of Knowles would change the type of development needed here.“I can assure you of this: We have no intention of operating the Thompson Falls plant in its present condition up close to the expiration of its present license date in 1965,” O’Connor said.He said construction of a High Mountain Sheep dam on the Snake river by the Pacific Northwest Power Co., of which MPC is a partner, would not af-.fect plans for the Thompson' Falls dam. Other utilities com-- - - .whelog!Log to 1Ipecfeeingcorcontonigstr;anlt;leaonjprising the northwest firm willtakp fllNEW PEAK MONDAYSpurred by a return of high| Tuesday, the Associated Press°FU . J „____ 4V,„ that a hririop had heentemperatures, the flow of the Clark Fork river here reached its highest point Monday at 95,-500 cubic second feet. Wednesday morning the flow had dropped to 93,300.reported that a bridge had been washed out on the Bull river road cutting off traffic between Noxon and Troy. With the Highway 2 bridge closed at BonnersFerrytake all the power allocated to MPC until after “we develop Thompson Falls and BuffaloRapids.” . iConcerning the Buffalo Rapids proposals, O’Connor said he believes those dams are most desirable for western Montanabecause:1. Construction would provide 300 steady jobs over a six-yearperiod.(continued on page 6)areaskelhestrofcoldisfu1tretintobyorne
Newspaper Details
Thompson Falls Sanders County Ledger
Thompson Falls, Montana, US
Thu, Jun 08, 1961
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
University O.
USA 15 Mar 2021
Other Publications Near Thompson Falls, Montana
Thompson Falls Sanders County Independent Ledger
Thompson Falls Weekly Montanian
Thompson Falls Sanders County Ledger
