Local representatives demand transparency: Concerns raised over Lower Snake River Dams settlement

Here’s a quick recap of what’s been happening with the lower Snake River dams and the federal government’s surprise settlement. Representatives Kim Schrier, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, and Dan Newhouse, all from Washington State, recently sent a letter expressing their concerns to Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory.

In the letter, they noted that the federal government hasn’t specified where the funds for the settlement will come from. They’re also worried about the impact this agreement will have on the Bonneville Power Administration and its customers (which includes Vera Water and Power). They had some important questions too, like whether the replacement power for the lost hydropower production will be carbon-free, and if the resource acquisition process will allow for purchases from tribally owned energy sources as outlined in the agreement.

The representatives are also concerned about certain stakeholders, like electric utilities, being left out of the settlement discussions. They’re urging the Biden administration to engage more robustly and transparently with all the stakeholders in the region. It’s great to see them pushing for fairness and open dialogue.

This bipartisan letter is a clear indication that lawmakers from the Pacific Northwest are taking their oversight authority seriously when it comes to this issue. They’re making sure that the proposal to remove the dams receives bipartisan scrutiny in Congress. It’s good to know that our voices are being heard!

Read the letter >> Letter to CEQ on Columbia River System Operations