the film
forum
library
tutorial
contact

DONATE

Commentaries and editorials

Disputes June 21 Letter Regarding
The Dams on the Lower Snake River

by Marc Sullivan
Peninsula Daily News, June 24, 2020

Map: The Draft EIS of the Columbia River System Operations released in March 2020, included this graphic in Appendix H revealing widespread electric retail rate decreases through most of the Northwest. A letter in the June 21 Peninsula Daily News defends four embattled lower Snake River dams as providing "dispatchable power" to complement intermittent renewable resources like wind and solar.

While hydroelectric plants can indeed help to seamlessly integrate intermittent renewables, the Bonneville Power Administration, selling power from 31 federal hydroelectric projects, has abundant options.

The most useful dams for these purposes are those with large storage reservoirs, like Grand Coulee, rather than run-of-the-river dams like those on the Lower Snake.

These latter dams have, unfortunately, proven all too effective at dispatching endangered salmon and steelhead.

Related Sites:
Supports Jim Waddell's Position on Lower Snake River Dams by Richard DeBusman, Peninsula Daily News, 7/1/20
Recall Waddell by Mark White, Peninsula Daily News, 6/14/20
Public Power Council Expels Clallam PUD by Rob Ollikainen, Sequim Gazette, 6/10/20
'I Want Salmon Back in Idaho.' Simpson Seeks Bold Action After $16 Billion Spent on Recovery by Cynthia Sewell, Idaho Statesman, 4/23/19


Marc Sullivan, Sequim
Disputes June 21 Letter Regarding The Dams on the Lower Snake River
Peninsula Daily News, June 24, 2020

See what you can learn

learn more on topics covered in the film
see the video
read the script
learn the songs
discussion forum
salmon animation