MOUNTAIN HOME - At one point the possibility of a nuclear power plant in Elmore County seemed to have stalled, but the controversial plan is far from dead.

Elmore County's planning and zoning commission rejected a proposal to re-zone land for a nuclear power plant in November, 2008, but Wednesday night the commission voted to give it another long look.

Alternate Energy Holdings wants to build the plant on 1,280 acres near Hammett. A company spokesperson says it will mean 5,000 jobs at the peak of construction. The energy company is also pushing for a similar plant in Payette County, but in the end it's only going to build one.

"Mountain Home and the whole country is suffering economically right now. So anything that could come in and help create jobs and boost the economy, why not?” said Carl Claycomb, a Mountain Home resident since 1985.
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The Snake River Alliance says a reactor isn't the only way to generate power in the county.

“And we feel like there is a lot of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Elmore County. The planning and zoning staff over there has proposals before them for wind energy for example,” said Liz Woodruff from the alliance.

Thursday night the focus moves to Payette County where the planning and zoning commission will talk about nuclear-friendly re-zoning. But even if the county gives the company the go ahead to build, it will take two and a half years to get federal approval.