Congress considers bill to preserve the economic and environmental benefits of the Snake River dams
Key Findings
- Activists who want to destroy the four Lower Snake River dams say it would be cheap and easy, and very expensive.
- WPC research finds it would cost $200 million more a year to replace the environmental and energy benefits of the dams.
- A NOAA Fisheries study found that the survival rate of young salmon that pass the dams is 96%.
- The dams provide about 7% of Washington’s electrical power, as much as all solar and wind generation combined.
- Activists use solar energy replacement estimates based on panels in Arizona; in our Northwest climate solar panels would produce at least 30% less power.
- A bill to protect the dams has passed the U.S. House and awaits action in the Senate.
Introduction
Advocates from the left-wing N.W. Energy Coalition and other activists want to destroy the four dams on the Lower Snake River. They claim replacing the energy produced by the dams would be cheap and easy. They also claim it would be expensive, which, they say, is good.
Although these claims are not a useful tool for public policy guidance, it illuminates the lengths some will go to in order to push an agenda even when the data are not on their side.
Washington Policy Center has analyzed these claims and found it would cost $200 million more a year to replace the electricity and environmental benefits of the dams. A bill in Congress would preserve the dams and the many economic and environmental benefits they provide.
Following is a letter WPC sent to Congress providing studies and other support for legislation that would protect this important federal investment in our region.