Our Power is Water - The Snake River Dams

The Lower Snake River Dams Prevent Blackouts – The lower Snake River dams have already avoided blackouts in the Tri-Cities. Thousands of new homes and businesses will be built here in the next few years. Our economy is growing. Because they can quickly increase energy production, all four lower Snake River dams have never been more important to avoid blackouts with renewable, carbon-free hydroelectricity.

The lower Snake River dams can produce 3,000 MW of carbon-free, renewable and clean electricity.

Hydropower acts as a battery, holding potential energy in its reservoirs for when it’s needed – such as the extreme cold of February 2021 and the heat wave in June 2021. Wind and solar cannot act on-demand like hydropower. It’s there when you need it.

“If not for Ice Harbor (dam), we would have been scrambling with customers to move loads around to avoid putting customers in the dark,” – BPA VP of Transmission Operations Michelle Cathcart

The Dams Make Wind and Solar Energy Possible – Without hydroelectricity to fill in the gaps, the grid cannot take the swings in generation caused by fluctuations in wind and sunshine. The Northwest’s demand for ­electricity is highest in the winter when wind is less prevalent and the sun sets early in the day.

Many say that wind and solar can replace the LSRDs. However, the current technology cannot meet the current and growing demand for electricity without raising the price of electricity.

Hydropower Provides Affordable Electricity –

Several independent studies indicate a shortage of electricity generation in the coming years, particularly with the closure of coal plants. The lower Snake River dams are critically needed to avoid a repeat of the 2000-2001 energy crisis that resulted in soaring electricity prices.

“If Bonneville had to replace the four lower Snake River projects’ full capability with zero-carbon resources, the rate pressure could be up to 50% on wholesale power rates.” – Page 32 of the Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Executive Summary

More than half of Benton REA’s retail electricity rate covers wholesale power costs. Therefore, replacing lost generation from the LSRDs with carbon-free resources could result in a 25% increase in power costs to our members. Some can afford this, but most Washingtonians cannot. A rise in energy costs would raise the energy burden for vulnerable households more significantly and worsen our homeless crisis. This is wrong.

Hydropower is Reliable – Hydropower acts as a battery holding potential energy in its reservoirs for when it is needed–such as the heat wave of June 2021. Wind and solar cannot act on-demand like hydropower. It's here when you need it.

The Dams Meet Washington’s Carbon-Free Goals – Washington state’s Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) commits us to a path of no coal generation by 2025 and 100% clean energy by 2045. Zero carbon emissions are produced during hydropower generation.

Removing the lower Snake River Dams will add more carbon-emitting trucks and trains, not to mention more fossil fuel consumption. This does not align with Washington's clean energy goals.

The Dams Create Tourism, Recreation and Jobs – A free-flowing river would remove all water sports tourism between Lewiston, Idaho, and Pasco, Washington, and would lower the water level of many river-side communities, forcing them to rebuild quickly or lose forever their visitor revenue.

The lower Snake River dams provide industries, products, flood control and jobs to Northwest residents. This would all be lost if the lower Snake River dams were breached.

The Dams make Agriculture in the PNW possible – The Columbia-Snake River System is the top wheat export gateway in the U.S. In addition to grain, the river system move nearly $3 billion worth of other commercial cargo.

Apples, alfalfa, grapes onion, potatoes and sugar beets are grown with irrigation water from the reservoir behind Ice Harbor Dam.

The Dams Are Just One Factor in Salmon and Orca Survival – Salmon from the Snake River are only one part of an orca’s diet. Salmon survival rates through these dams are as high as 97%. NOAA Fisheries’ analysis shows Puget Sound Chinook salmon are most important for the Southern Residents. Cleaning the Puget Sound and reducing carbon output would be a better use of time and money in saving our treasured salmon and orca.

Additionally, a peer-reviewed study conducted by Canadian researchers showed a 65% decline in Chinook salmon survival in Pacific Ocean rivers over the last 50 years. Salmon mortality is decreasing from Northern California to Southeast Alaska and in un-dammed rivers. Money and time should be spent on ocean research, not Snake River dam breaching.

The cleanest step forward for salmon is to retain our carbon-free, renewable hydroelectric generation, rather than relying on fossil fuels  that cause rising ocean temperatures to produce electricity and transport goods. Don't step backwards in our climate change fight by removing hydroelectricity from our fuel mix.

Politicians assume dam breaching will certainly improve fish populations. This is an assumption, not science. Removing dams will cost our region billions, without the guarantee of saving salmon.

We support science-based, region-wide commitment to salmon recovery across all aspects of the salmon life cycle.