At the first NID Board meeting of the year yesterday (Wed.), the room was packed mostly with opponents of the Centennial Dam project. During the public comment period, many expressed concerns about what they say is the escalating cost. Traci Sheehan, with the Foothills Water Network, says the latest estimate from the Board President is around $500 million. And she says if the project ends up being completely financed, without bond or grant money, that would double the pricetag to over a-billion dollars. She urges the board to consider more cost-effective and less environmentally destructive alternatives…

click to listen to Traci Sheehan

Sheehan says much of the financing would end up being passed on to ratepayers. But NID general manager Rem Scherzinger says there would be a minimal impact, if any…

click to listen to Rem Scherzinger

Sherzinger is also more optimistic about finding federal and state monies for the project. He says a more precise cost, along with a draft environmental impact report, is expected to be released in the third or fourth quarter of this year, with a public hearing to be held around that time. NID hopes to start construction of Centennial Dam in time for their 100th anniversary, which is 2021