California commission recommends ripping out Klamath Dams

Seattle Times ^ | 10/29/07 | Al-AP

[BurbankKarl]

GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- California Energy Commission analysts urged Oregon, California and Washington to deny any requests from PacifiCorp to increase electricity rates to help pay for upgrading Klamath dams.

A Monday letter signed by California Energy Commission executive director B.B. Blevins asks the public utility commissions in each of the three states to authorize cost recovery only for decommissioning the four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River. Indian tribes, fishermen and conservation groups want the dams removed to open up spawning habitat for struggling salmon runs.

"The Energy Commission has a responsibility not only to provide reliable energy supplies, but to provide for the environment," said Chris Tooker, an energy policy analyst for the California Energy Commission. "It takes that balancing mandate seriously. The whole reason we are involved in the Klamath issue is to help educate the participants."

PacifiCorp is seeking a new license to operate the J.C. Boyle, Copco 1, Copco 2 and Iron Gate dams on the Klamath for the next 30 to 50 years. Though the dams only produce enough power for 70,000 households, PacifiCorp says it's power that does not emit greenhouse gases.

The utility has said it would be willing to spend $300 million on fish ladders and other improvements to meet a federal mandate to provide salmon a way to reach hundreds of miles of spawning habitat blocked for the past century. It has also said it would be willing to remove the dams if their ratepayers don't have to pay for it.

[o_zarkman44]

more lunatic fringe environmental wackery.

We need power, and we need water. But who is stupid enough to give up those necessities in favor of a fish?

[B4Ranch]

Thanks for the ping.

I will not comment because this is supposedly a family forum and I am not feeling very polite.

[Blue Highway]

I’m surprised the Sierra Club isn’t behind this. Oh I forgot they are more interested in not doing control burns in California because they are tree huggers but when the trees burn anyway they want federal $$$$ and blame the govt. for not rescuing them.

[eyedigress]

You seem to be near my thinking. (I hope not to insult but I was a kinda regular at the Station House)

[o_zarkman44]

the only way we are going to stop this environmental wackery is to get right in their face and start saying NO!!
And say NO to their judges who empower them.
And say NO to the politicians who pander to them.

[pepsionice]

This is the master plan:

As a environmentalist...you want people to volunteer to give up their wasteful amount of electricity. If they won’t volunteer...you rig the poker game to go against the consumer. You start with taxes and fees...increasing the cost, hoping that this will be enough. Eventually, as dim as you are about economic matters, you the environmentalist find that higher costs won’t work. So then you slide into carbon fees or carbon credits...which work in the same manner...additional higher costs. The consumer doesn’t care. He simply pays more. So then you start looking for ways to stall electrical manufacturing. You deny new coal-fired plants and nuclear powered plants. When someone talks of a hydroelectric project...you deny them because that takes precious farm land. So as new projects fall to the side...the old plants come up for discussion. You deny them a chance to upgrade or repair...so eventually they will become issues and have to be torn down...leaving a gap in the grid.

The plan, you see....is very simple. It may take me 40 years to accomplish...but eventually...you will be forced to limit your consumption of power. I’ll decide your consumption level for you. I’ll do this because I’m more “wise” than you on the environment and electrical needs.

Of course, there is always the possibility that some country....like Canada or Mexico could ruin this plan...by manufacturing a dozen nuclear power plants or 40 coal-fired plants, and offer to sell you your necessary power...at twice or three times the current rate. They might laugh all the way to the bank as they take your cash.

[Blue Highway]

amen to that o_zarkman

[Colorado Doug]

We need to cut California off the grid and let them do what they want IN CALIFORNIA without sucking everyone else’s energy up and causing inflated prices when they refuse to make enough for themselves.

[hinckley buzzard]

improvements to meet a federal mandate to provide salmon a way to reach hundreds of miles of spawning habitat blocked for the past century.

The salmon have co-existed with the dams for a hundred years but now all of a sudden they can't. Smells like BS to me.

[c-b 1]

Neither the ranchers nor the farmers who rely on Klamath Falls water is mentioned in this article.

I noticed that.

[tubebender]

These dams have been in place far far longer then the decline of fish numbers...

[dadgum]

I thought the whole water management issue revolved around the Klamath Sucker Fish.

Now it’s salmon?

I guess the suckers must be thriving at a consternating level at this time.

[Eastbound]

Wussup here, Jeff. I smelled salmon even before I clicked on this.

[Jeff Head]

See my response in post # 7. More of the same...the enemies of liberty and the traditional American way of life in the environmental lobbies, with the rabid UN NGO’s, in the Judidicary, and elsewhere are not giving up.

[Shimmer]

I don’t know if you were pinged yet, so here this is.

[marsh2]

Hey, I am on official record as being opposed to this.

[Joe Boucher]

Exactly,
In a time of national energy emergency we need to not drill in the coastal waters, alaska or my back yard. AND lets take out hydroelectric dams while we are at it.
Let’s make mid east oil and blackmail even more likely.

[Ben Ficklin]

"in favor of the fish"

Its not the fish, it is the economic/recreational value of the fish. And it is not just the value of the fish(recreational) but other recreational values such as down stream boating. Or camping. Or hiking.

The recreational value of the river to the local and state economy and tax base far exceeds the irrigation and power generation value of the river.

Another example closer to your home is the economic value to N AR and S MO of the White River fishery.

[Tribune7]

One more reason why global warming is bunk.

[freemike]

Oil is bad. Dams are bad. Bill Clinton is out there suggesting people put dirt on their roofs and plant grass to help GW. These people are either complete morons or actively working for the destruction of our society one piece at a time. If we don’t have revival it won’t matter who we put in office or what the policies are. Honestly,, this nation could tip either way. The future of this nation does not even depend upon sinners repenting! It depends upon the church repenting! When the church repents of it’s sin and falls on it’s face weeping for forgiveness, it will then have the power and authority to weep for this nation! We have replaced politics for repentance! Politics is great! Every Christian should be involved! That alone will never change this nation! Why do we think that some how our sacrifice to maintain freedom and liberty is going to be so less than those who laid the foundation?? Our country has gone through a lot,, it has always been a church repenting, God forgiving and a revival moving that has saved it! Our nation is filled to overflowing with sinners and sin! Pornography, drunkenness, pride, infidelity, lying, cheating and stealing,,, and that is just the church! And then we are so shocked at congress and Hollywood! I will end with the following. We think we are powerless to change the nation. God was fed up with Israel. God told Moses to step aside because he was going to wipe out every man in Israel,, sick of their complaining and sin after all He had done,, He told Moses He would make Moses a ruler of a new nation! But Moses told God ‘No!” Moses changed God’s mind! Moses stood in the gap for Israel and God repented!! God is still looking for a man Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.”