Monday March 27, 2023
Big Country News —
On Thursday, Idaho Senator Jim Risch and Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers were among those to introduce the ‘Northwest Energy Security Act,’ aimed at protecting the lower Snake River dams and boosting energy production along the entire Columbia River System.
Risch and McMorris-Rodgers were joined by Montana Senator Steve Daines and Washington Congressman Dan Newhouse in introducing the legislation.
“A comprehensive, scientific process made clear dam breaching on the lower Snake River is completely unnecessary and unwarranted,” said Risch. “With the Northwest Energy Security Act, Congress will ensure the Columbia River Power System continues to provide reliable and clean energy and supports the region’s transportation, agriculture, and irrigation needs. I remain adamantly opposed to breaching the dams.”
Specifically, this legislation requires the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) to be operated in alignment with the 2020 “Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement (CRSO EIS) Record of Decision,” which was developed by federal agencies using the best available science and following public process requirements outlined in federal law. The 2020 CRSO EIS protects the power and navigation benefits of the Lower Snake River dams, while requiring operations modifications to support endangered salmon recovery.