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Posted on 12/18/2023 6:28:32 AM PST by Twotone
The recent agreement between the Biden Administration and the states of Washington and Oregon and the tribes on dam breaching represents a missed opportunity.
Instead of working together to find common ground, the signatories to the agreement pandered to their political supporters and paid no attention to the REAL impacts dam removal would have on Idahoans.
As Idaho state leaders, we are united in our strong opposition to removing the dams because it would eliminate a clean source of energy (hydropower) that powers the entire region, harm agriculture, and fundamentally change our economy for the worse.
Sustaining healthy salmon and steelhead populations is important. But make no mistake, that is not what this deal does.
The deal that was released to the parties with only weeks to examine is an aspirational document that spends Pacific Northwest ratepayer money with little to no accountability for outcomes in fish populations or energy production. Perhaps what’s worse, the deal contemplates eliminating thousands of megawatts of clean energy while the region is facing an 8,000-megawatt energy deficit in the next decade.
You don’t have to take it from us. Just look at the inland ports, agriculture commodity groups, and local communities that are impacted by the deal. They are opposed to the settlement agreement, and for good reason. Not only were they not included in the process, but they were flatly ignored when they tried to give input.
Additionally, breaching the dams threatens regional economic stability and power system reliability. Without the certainty provided by clean hydropower, the Pacific Northwest would be left with unreliable power sources that simply can’t replace firm, dispatchable power.
Take Portland for example. The region has 7,000 megawatts of intermittent wind power. During the Portland “Heat Dome,” less than 400 megawatts were generated by wind and the region had to go to the market to buy expensive energy sources during peak demand.
We believe the authors of this deal are genuine in their desire to do what they believe is right for constituents. Unfortunately, it appears they only listened to a select few constituents in the region while disregarding many.
A truly inclusive process would have acknowledged that we can provide structural repairs and improvements that benefit fish while simultaneously preserving the region’s critical access to clean hydropower the dams provide.
A better process would have uncovered river operations that would improve fish passage.
A better process would have revealed that the region needs MORE energy production on top of our current baseload.
In fact, a better process still may have even included many of the fish restoration projects contained within the current settlement document.
But as long as the proponents of the agreement include language that suggests we breach clean hydropower, Idaho has no choice but to stand in opposition. We simply can’t afford to let Idaho communities, farmers, and ratepayers suffer.
No. There is no common ground.
If you would like more information about what’s happening in Oregon, please FReepmail me. Please send me your name by FReepmail if you want to be on this list.
Dam breaching advocates are the enviro equivalent of Radical Hamas terrorists
Obviously brad doesn’t get “it”.
There is no 'common ground'. There is only sanity or insanity.
Hydropower is the only practical clean energy.
It actually serves as a peak power energy generator.
Unlike wind and solar, which are on the whims of mature, dams can be turned on and off whenever there is a need!
They are now even using dams as an energy storage - they are pumping water up during the time of oversupply, to have more energy when needed.
But, NO, we need to save the salmon, so we need to pollute the environment with more solar, windmills and batteries!
“We believe the authors of this deal are genuine in their desire to do what they believe is right for constituents. “
The quoted sentence above stands as proof that Brad doesn’t have the sense that God gave a goose. Asserting there is anything “genuine” about this gaggle of grifters conniving an end run around the people is just ridiculous.
“We believe the authors of this deal are genuine in their desire to do what they believe is right for constituents.”
If that’s true you’re fools.
L
(1) Reparations for a large percentage of the money spent by the Bonneville Power Administration associated with lost power production for “fish flush” operations plus money on various fishery programs along the lower Columbia and Snake Rivers.
(2) Prioritization of hydro power and its ancillary services for the Pacific Northwest at the expense of California. Without the lower Snake River dams power grid stability of the California DC intertie will be more difficult. Also without the lower Snake River Dams, there will be less hydro power and the need for more solar/wind to meet PNW loads and without more ancillary services devoted to the PNW, the reliability and stability of the PNW grid will be less.
(3) If after 15 years without the dams, the amount of upstream fish does not increase to a certain level, a “failure” will be declared and the federal government will rebuild the dams. What most don't realize is that urban growth and various water runoff issues have destroyed salmon/steelhead habitat far more than dams.
speaking as a half breed myself...
...why do these tribes get to make decisions for land , river, and power anything for non tribal people groups ?
wheres the
” muh endangered democracy”
in that ?
the democrat party
is
organized crime.
What most don’t realize is that urban growth and various water runoff issues have destroyed salmon/steelhead habitat far more than dams.
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and the asian fishing/canning/floating factories that live just off our coast.
I don’t think there is any common ground to be found between the progressive communists and most American-loving, Constitution-supporting, freedom-advocating conservatives.
When someone is calling for “common ground” they usually are insisting conservatives compromise their values and move to the left.
I have a place on the Klamath. Got a letter stating that there may be sediments deposited during/after dam destruction and if they’re toxic, the govt may remove them if the access is OK. There’s enough sediment to cover I5 from Oregon to Mexico to a foot deep. All lanes and shoulders. When that blows down river there will be several year class runs of coho killed and those fish are very sensitive (3yrs per run)
They will be toast for decades. But that’s OK cause gold dredging is banned.
I did have a bucket Brigade t shirt for a long time even though I was in Florida back then. And yes, concrete is a hazard and can be quite toxic .
I visited the head gates and ‘bout died laughing with the sign that delineated the ‘Federal Agent Viewing Area’.
The riders down from the ridge bearing inverted American flags was a sight to behold.
“What are you wearing ‘Jake’ from the fbi?”. “ Uh, khakis with lots of pockets!”.
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