Court slams nuclear plant promoter

U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge issued an order last Wednesday granting the Securities and Exchange Commission a final judgement in the civil case against Don Gillispie and Alternate Energy Holdings for stock manipulation and fraud, ordering Gillispie and the company to pay more than $15 million in fines, penalties and funds owed stockholders.

A few hours later, Lodge set aside his order for final judgement, saying it was entered prematurely, and gave the defendants until Dec. 30 to file responses to the SEC's motion for final judgement. Lodge will rule again in January, about the same time that Gillispie and his AEHI vice president, Jennifer Ransom, go to trail on criminal charges related to their handling of funds for their proposed nuclear power project in Idaho.

For the full story, pick up a copy of the Mountain Home News or click on this link to subscribe to the newspaper's online edition.

AEHI had originally proposed building a nuclear power plant in Owyhee County near Bruneau, then moved the site to locations near Hammett and then Indian Cove in Elmore County. After significant opposition arose in the local community, the company moved their plans to Payette, where it received site approval from the county commissioners there.