KENNEWICK – Washington Policy Center will release new polling Tuesday that will reveal what Washingtonians really know about the Snake River dams and whether they believe the dams should be removed. The poll of 500 Washington voters statewide, was conducted in late November.  Results will provide new context to the debate over the fate of the lower Snake River dams.

“Much has been said and much has been assumed about the Snake River dams,” explained WPC Environmental Research director Todd Myers. “How Washingtonians responded to this latest polling should certainly give lawmakers and the media pause.”

To get a sense of what Washington residents really know, poll participants were asked simple questions such as “how many Snake River dams are there in Washington,” and “when were salmon runs the highest?” They were also asked opinion questions, such as “do you favor removal of the dams,” and would you be “willing to pay for higher electricity costs to remove the dams?”

“The results were eye-opening,” said WPC Eastern Washington director Chris Cargill. “In some cases, it is a classic split between East vs. West – until participants of the poll become more informed. Then, the state speaks with more solidarity.”

Results of the polling will be available at Tuesday’s news conference.

WHAT:  

Announcement of new polling regarding Washington’s Snake River dams

WHO:    

Washington State Senator Sharon Brown

WPC Environmental Director Todd Myers

WPC Eastern Washington Director Chris Cargill

WHERE:

Tri-Cities Home Builders Association (10001 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick)

WHEN:  

Tuesday, December 17th

1:15-2:00pm

Washington Policy Center is the state’s leading public policy research organization with offices in Spokane, Seattle, Olympia and the Tri-Cities. WPC focuses on eight key research areas: Agriculture, Education, Environment, Government Reform, Health Care, Small Business, Transportation and Worker Rights. Ideas from WPC’s research centers are regularly implemented and debated by voters and the legislature.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Todd Myers in the Idaho Law Review: The Environmental Tradeoffs of Removing the Snake River Dams

POLICY NOTE: The high-cost of tearing down the Snake River Dams

ECONorthwest’s report advocating destruction of the Snake River Dams is unscientific and inaccurate

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Washington Policy Center

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www.washingtonpolicyblog.org | www.OlympiaPolicyWatch.org