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Old, Weak, Unreliable by Reed Burkholder Lewiston Tribune, September 14, 2003

On the day that President Bush visited Ice Harbor Dam, the dam's generators were producing about 70 average megawatts.

Meanwhile back in Texas, a hundred power plants could have produced more energy. Of these, the W.A. Parish power plant could have generated nearly 4,000 megawatts all by itself. Seven other power plants could have produced 2,000 to 3,000 megawatts. An additional 14 power plants could have produced 1,000 - 2,000 megawatts. And 31 other power plants could have produced 500 - 1,000 megawatts.

I would have liked for our president to relate the facts: Ice Harbor and the other Snake River dams are old, weak and unreliable generating technology. Removing them to aid salmon is no big deal for our energy supply.