Colorado River Deliveries to Remain the Same — For Now (Politico)

Hopes for a boost to reservoir levels on the Colorado River after a wet winter were dashed by a dry spring and summer, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman said Friday as her agency said that rules governing water deliveries in 2021 will be the same as those governing them this year.

According to the bureau's 2-year projections, Lake Mead is expected to be at elevation 1,085.28 feet on the trigger date — Jan. 1, 2021 — meaning voluntary delivery reductions agreed to by the states of Arizona, Nevada and California will remain in play, but more severe cuts will be staved off for at least another year.

Lake Powell, which stores water from the Upper Basin is projected to be at elevation 3,591.60 feet on the first of the year — 100 feet above the level at which Glen Canyon dam's turbines would be cut off.

California: Draft Environmental Impact Report Available for Wind-Energy Project in Eastern Shasta County (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)

(REDDING, CA) -- The draft environmental impact report for a controversial wind-energy project in eastern Shasta County has been published.

The public has until 5 p.m. Sept. 18 to comment on the environmental document.

Fountain Wind developer Scott Kringen addresses a full Montgomery Creek Elementary School gym at a public meeting for the Fountain Wind project in January 2019.

ConnectGen wants to build the project, called Fountain Wind, on nearly 4,500 acres six miles west of Burney and one mile west of the existing Hatchet Ridge wind project.

The new wind turbine proposal would be on leased timberland near the communities of Montgomery Creek, Round Mountain, Oak Run, Moose Camp, Big Bend and Wengler.

Per the draft EIR, Fountain Wind would feature up to 72 wind turbines that could be as high as 679 feet — higher than Shasta Dam. The project would have a maximum generating capacity of 216 megawatts, enough to power more than 200,000 homes, according to a formula from the Lawrence Livermore Labs.

Last summer, a citizens’ group that opposes the project had asked the county to place a moratorium on any more large generation projects.

Citizens in Opposition to the Fountain Wind Project said the nearly 38,000-acre forested area that the turbines would be located within is in a high fire hazard zone.

Paul Hellman, the county’s director of resource management, said he does not know when the project would come before the Planning Commission for final approval. The project would go before the Board of Supervisors if the commission’s decision is appealed.

“It’s really too early to predict that,” Hellman said of a Planning Commission date. “Once we receive all the comments, we will have to evaluate them, prepare responses, and we really don’t know until we see the magnitude of comments” how long that will take.

As COVID Talk Dominates, Fed Lawmakers Consider Energy Measures (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- As negotiators weigh next steps, lawmakers on both sides of Congress are waiting on the sidelines with a host of energy asks they're hoping to hitch onto the next relief package. Here is a few ME are watching:

— Bipartisan House members want to include legislation, H.R. 7483 (116), to provide financial relief to rural electric cooperatives that are suffering amid the coronavirus crisis.

— More than 30 farm-state lawmakers want negotiators to include language "explicitly" directing relief to biofuel producers, including, for example, language requiring the Agriculture secretary to provide a per-gallon payment to producers for renewable fuels produced during the pandemic.

— Senate Republicans are directly urging Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to prioritize assistance for the clean energy sector, and House Democrats have also vowed to prioritize assistance to the sector in future packages. The GOP lawmakers say they would like policies that benefit "renewables, nuclear, carbon capture, efficiency, advanced transportation, and energy storage."

— House Republicans, led by Natural Resources ranking member Rob Bishop and Science ranking member Frank Lucas, are looking to include provisions to reduce foreign dependence on critical minerals. "While the insecurity of many of our country's supply chains is not new, the threat posed by America's growing import reliance for critical minerals has become particularly apparent," they write. Murkowski's bill, the American Mineral Security Act, S. 1317 (116) , made it into the Republican Covid-19 measure pushed in the Senate.

— House Democrats have also drawn a line in the sand against any proposals for federal corporate immunity that would shield businesses that reopen amid the Covid-19 pandemic from lawsuits for five years, something environmental activists have said is also tied to the fossil fuel industry.

— Meanwhile, House Democrats' have already included more than $1 billion in their own coronavirus rescue plan to help low-income households cover their water bills and would institute a moratorium on utility service shutoffs for any entity receiving federal relief funds. Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee also recently released a report warning that just 10 states have protections in place to shield their residents from having their water, gas or electric utilities shut off. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies asked for $4 billion to help cover the costs of a shutoff moratorium.

Chelan PUD Welcomes New Communicator (Northwest Public Power Association)

(WENATCHEE, WA) -- Rachel Hansen has joined Chelan PUD as senior

communications strategist and chief media contact. She is taking over from Kimberlee Craig, who retired on June 30 after 21 years at the PUD, most of that as public information officer.

Hansen comes to Chelan PUD from Cascade Medical Center in Leavenworth where she developed outreach and public engagement programs as the center’s first communications staffer. Before that she was a reporter and editor at The Wenatchee World. She also has written for Northwest travel publications and provided public relations for others, including wineries.

Craig is lucky to be moving into a different role as a contractor, helping Visitor Services Manager Debbie Gallaher and the Rocky Reach Discovery Center with communications during renovations expected to start in August. She’s excited to see the project through reopening in spring 2021.

Hispanic Leaders Will Address COVID-19 Crisis Monday June 29th, 5:00 PM at Pasco Farmers Market

(PASCO, WA)

What? Hispanic leaders from across the state, Franklin PUD and the Benton-Franklin Health District have partnered to address the COVID-19 crisis affecting the Latino community in Benton and Franklin counties. The speakers will encourage people to wear masks, encourage social distancing and educate residents on the health risks of COVID-19.

When? Monday, June 29^th at 5:00 p.m.

Where? Pasco Farmers Market on 4^th and Lewis in Pasco, Washington adjacent to Viera’s Bakery and across the Pasco Specialty Kitchen.

Why?  Our goal is to encourage mask-wearing & good social distancing practices in the Hispanic community. COVID-19 is spreading rapidly through the Hispanic community for various reasons. Many are essential workers, thousands are part of the agricultural industry and many come from large families where social distancing is a challenge. We are not blaming the Hispanic community for the spread. Everyone must do their part to defeat COVID-19.

Who will speak? Pasco Mayor Saul Martinez, Dr. Amy Person (BFHD), Dr. Raul Garcia (ER Doctor Lourdes), Martin Valadez (TCHCC President) Gabriel Portugal (President DPDA) LBA, WA State Legislator Alex Ybarra, Ana Peralta (Pasco Community Leader).

What will be said? Leaders will ask people from the Hispanic community to wear masks, practice social distancing and educate them on the risks of COVID-19.

Will it be conducted in English and Spanish? Yes all speakers are bilingual and will speak in English and Spanish.

Will there be Q & A when the news conference is over? Yes each speaker is available, except for Dr. Garcia, he has to leave for a scheduled engagement.

Energy Industry's Diversity Problem (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- In the immediate aftermath of the protests that shot up across the country following the killing of George Floyd, many energy and industry groups have made public gestures of support. Oil giants like ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and the industry group American Petroleum Institute came out with statements condemning racism, as did leaders of the wind and solar energy sectors.

But those statements came from leaders in an industry that is still predominantly white, especially in the highest management positions, Pro's Gavin Bade and Ben Lefebvre report this morning.

One 2016 study from API found nearly three-quarters of oil and gas industry workers were white. The rank and file of the wind and solar sectors are slightly more diverse, according to a 2019 report for state energy officials, but many of the highest paid jobs are dominated by white workers. The oil and gas industry as a whole also has long generated complaints that it has been hostile to women and minorities.

"Those who have statements have good statements, but from where I sit, what we want to know is what happens after your statement," said Paula Glover, head of American Association of Blacks in Energy. "Because [a statement] that says we abhor racism and inequality, it's not that it rings hollow, but if you do nothing to back that up by making change in your organization, then it's just words on the page."

Industry groups seek diversity rising. API says a majority of new oil and gas jobs through 2040 will be filled by women and people of color — though that portion is smaller for managerial and C-suite positions. Leaders in the wind and solar sector have said they plan to redouble their diversity efforts in the wake of recent protests.

But protesters from the energy sector said they want companies to not only hire more black and Latino employees but to focus business development on their communities and transform an industry culture that is often hostile to non-white workers.

"The system is not broken — it's working exactly how it should for a certain population," said Jamez Staples, a clean energy entrepreneur in North Minneapolis who attended Floyd's funeral last week. "Now that there's more people of color coming up through these systems, they're realizing that they're broken or aren't functioning well and they need to be demolished and rebuilt ... to create economic models that are more inclusive."

COVID-19 Creates Air Conditioning Conundrum (Politico)

(Washington, DC) -- The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute raised alarm bells in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over its members' inability to manufacture products in their Mexican factories because of the pandemic.

According to the letter, there is currently no federal directive designating essential status for HVACR and water heating in Mexico — where some of AHRI's member companies have a large manufacturing presence. Because of that, "the situation for equipment and supply chain manufacturers there is dire," writes Stephen Yurek, the trade association's president and CEO.

The group calls on Pompeo to persuade Mexico's federal, state and local jurisdictions to allow continued manufacturing operations. "The continued inability of some of our member companies to manufacture products in their Mexican factories will very soon severely impact our ability to supply these essential products to the American market, putting American lives and health at risk," the letter states.

U.S. Dept of Commerce Launches Probe into Transformer Equipment (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- The Commerce Department opened a Section 232 investigation into whether imports of certain parts used in electrical transformer equipment constitutes a national security risk and should be subject to trade restrictions.

The probe comes under the same law used to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and came after requests from members of Congress and domestic industry, Commerce said. "An assured domestic supply of these products enables the United States to respond to large power disruptions affecting civilian populations, critical infrastructure, and U.S. defense industrial production capabilities," the department said.

The order follows Friday's executive order prohibiting U.S. electric utilities from installing grid devices from foreign manufacturers that could threaten national security.

2020 Pikeminnow Season Opening Delayed – States’ Responses to COVID-19 Outbreak Impacts Fishing Season, Boat Ramps (Bonneville Power Administration)

(PORTLAND, OR) -- A popular Northwest fishing program is getting a late start this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The 2020 Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery will not open on May 1, as originally planned. The fishery is tentatively scheduled to open May 11, for registered anglers with licenses to fish in the Columbia and Snake rivers. Fishery updates, including possible opening day changes, will be announced on the website, www.pikeminnow.org.

Stay at home orders issued in March by governors in Washington and Oregon closed or limited fishing and limited access to some recreational facilities, including boat ramps. Washington recently reopened many outdoor recreational activities on a limited basis, including opening most fishing seasons and allowing day-use of many boat ramps.

While the lifting of these restrictions is good news for anglers eagerly awaiting the start of the Northern pikeminnow reward fishery program, when it opens anglers will see some changes to the registration and turn-in procedures. These changes are intended to protect the health and well-being of program employees and fishing enthusiasts. Program participants should expect additional barriers, signs, and floor markers at stations to encourage social distancing. Anglers will be encouraged not to congregate in groups near registration stations and asked to unload their fish into designated containers.

Some program elements haven’t changed. Registered anglers will again earn $5 to $8 for each Northern pikeminnow that is at least 9 inches long. The more fish an angler reels in, the more each Northern pikeminnow is worth. Specially tagged Northern pikeminnow will be worth $500. Last year the top fisherman in the program removed 6,482 Northern pikeminnow and earned more than $53,000.

Northern pikeminnow are voracious eaters, consuming millions of young salmon and steelhead each year. Since 1990, anglers paid through the program have removed nearly five million Northern pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake rivers. The program annually reduces predation from Northern pikeminnow on young salmon and steelhead by approximately 40%.

Check the fishery website, www.pikeminnow.org, or call 800-858-9015 for updates on the 2020 season. The website also has details on how to register for the program and applicable state fishing regulations. Anglers will also find resources on the site to help boost their fishing game, including fishing maps and how-to videos.

The program is administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in cooperation with the Washington and Oregon departments of fish and wildlife and is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.

Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Energy Purchase for Winter Loads in Southeast Idaho (Bonneville Power Administration)

(PORTLAND, OR) -- The Bonneville Power Administration has released a request for offers for a five-year market purchase of power during winter months to serve a portion of its preference customer load in southeast Idaho. The purchases would be shaped up to 125 megawatts during heavy load hours in some months and will begin November 2021 and end in March 2026.

The RFO was released on April 22 and remains open through May 11. The RFO includes selection criteria, credit requirements, product description, and enabling agreement requirements. The RFO can be found at https://www.bpa.gov/p/Documents/SEID-RFO-2021-2026.pdf.

BPA has a statutory commitment to provide reliable, low-cost service to all of its preference customers. BPA currently serves six preference customers in southeast Idaho through a combination of market purchases and power wheeled from the federal system. BPA previously sought a request for offers and awarded a five-year contract in 2016 to address the interim power needs of these customers.

Electric Co-Ops in Trouble (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- The nation's electric co-ops, which often must maintain miles of powerlines to support small numbers of customers, say they have been slammed by the decline in electricity consumption due to the drop in economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A study released Wednesday by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, a trade association, said co-ops anticipated a 5 percent decline in power consumption which, along with unpaid bills, could amount to $10 billion in losses through 2022. "As the economic impact of this pandemic spreads, electric co-ops will be increasingly challenged as they work to keep the lights on for hospitals, grocery stores and millions of new home office," Jim Matheson, NRECA's CEO, said in a statement.

Congressional Lawmakers Ask for Electric Co-Op Clarity (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- A bipartisan group of lawmakers urged Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza to consider rural electric cooperatives as qualifying recipients for the Paycheck Protection Program. As "electric co-ops face the same challenges as many other small businesses, we believe the Small Business Administration should ensure they are eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program," the lawmakers write. The House letter, signed by 164 lawmakers, was sent Tuesday, while the Senate letter, sent April 16, was signed by 43 senators.

Mason PUD 1 Honored with National Award for Safety (Mason PUD 1, Potlatch, WA)

(WASHINGTON, DC) – For the second consecutive year, Mason County PUD No. 1 has earned the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices. The utility earned another first-place award in the category for utilities with 30,000-59,000 worker-hours of annual worker exposure. Brandon Wylie, chair of the APPA’s Safety Committee, presented the award during the Association’s annual Engineering & Operations Technical Conference, held in Kansas City, Missouri. “Strong safety programs are essential to ensuring that electric utility employees are informed and trained on safe work procedures,” said Wylie. “The utilities receiving this award have proven that protecting the safety of their employees is a top priority.”

More than 335 utilities entered the annual Safety Awards contest, which is the highest number of entrants in the history of the program. Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of worker hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records during 2019. The incidence rate used to judge entries, is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2019, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“We are very proud of our safety record, which is a direct carryover of our continuous-improvement safety culture,” said Kristin Masteller, general manager of Mason PUD 1. “This award reflects the leadership from our operations director and foremen, our safety training program, and the hard work that goes into ensuring that our team members go home safe to their families every day.”

Electric Co-Ops Look to Next Relief Package (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association called on congressional leaders Monday to consider remedies for electric cooperatives in the next coronavirus relief package. NRECA CEO Jim Matheson in a letter laid out several challenges facing electric co-ops amid the coronavirus pandemic, including service disconnection moratoria, USDA Rural Utilities Service financing, rural broadband access and delays in FEMA funding. “As a result of nonpayments and load falloff resulting from economic hardship, some not-for-profit electric cooperatives are facing significant operational shortfalls. Without federal assistance, co-ops may face severe financial distress”

Pend Oreille PUD Installs Community Wi-Fi Hotspots (Pend Oreille PUD, Newport, WA)

(NEWPORT, WA) -- Public Utility District No. 1 of Pend Oreille County (PUD) has installed several free community Wi-Fi hotspots.  In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the PUD launched this effort to help those in the community gain internet access.  With businesses, restaurants, and public facilities closed, the options for customers to connect are currently limited.  The PUD hopes to help bring connectivity to students and those community members that otherwise don’t have access.

The following locations currently have free Wi-Fi available using the Wi-Fi name: “POPUD_FREE WIFI INTERNET ACCESS”.

·         Newport at the park across from the Post Office at 100 N. Washington

·         Ione across from the PUD Warehouse at the corner of Central St. & Millyard Rd.

·         Metaline Falls outside the Cutter Theater at 302 Park Street

·         Cusick at the park near City Hall at 1^st Ave & Monumental Way

“Our doors may be closed, but we are still finding creative ways to serve our communities during this uncertain and difficult time," said Colin Willenbrock, the PUD’s General Manager.  “We hope these free hotspots help everyone stay connected, stay positive, and stay safe.”

If you have questions regarding the Wi-Fi hotspots, please call PUD Customer Service at 509-447-3137.  Speeds are dependent on the number of users utilizing the service per site, each site is dedicated and will not disrupt regular broadband customers.  This service will remain in place temporarily and will be removed when it becomes no longer necessary.

Statement from NW RiverPartners in Response to Governor Inslee’s Final Draft Report on the Lower Snake River Dams (Northwest RiverPartners, Vancouver, WA)

(VANCOUVER, WA) - - The final draft report on Washington state’s Lower Snake River Dams Stakeholder Process has been released, revealing wide-ranging issues and contentious opinions about the importance of the four lower Snake River dams (LSRD) as part of the region’s clean energy future.

Regarding the LSRD, Governor Inslee’s report stated, "They have boosted the economy and local communities in Southeast Washington but have also harmed tribal and fishing communities throughout the Pacific Northwest.” 

We appreciate the different perspectives that were shared in the Governor’s report. We would respectfully add that the lower Snake River dams have done more than boost “local communities” in Southeast Washington. 

The Northwest Power Pool and other regional energy forecasters agree that the Northwest is headed for a potential energy shortage or even region-wide blackouts over the next 1 to 5 years. This risk is driven by the accelerated retirement of approximately 7,000 megawatts of coal-fueled power plants in the Northwest over the next decade. (1,000 average megawatts of electricity is enough to power a city the size of Seattle.) 

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement predicts that this heightened risk of region-wide blackouts would double if the LSRD were lost. It also shows that replacing the carbon-free attributes of the LSRD would cost $1 billion annually and result in a 25% increase in electricity bills for millions of customers across the Northwest. 

Replacing the dams with natural gas-fueled power plants would cost much less, but would increase the power grid’s carbon footprint by approximately 10% or 3 million metric tons a year. We now live in a carbon-constrained world, where this type of outcome is not acceptable. 

For these and many other reasons, it is clear that the lower Snake River dams are critical to the entire Northwest. 

We do agree with the report’s conclusion that there are “opportunities for greater understanding.” In our own experience, we have many shared common interests with stakeholders on both sides of the LSRD debate. 

These interests include improving salmon populations, providing clean, affordable energy to the region, and improving the lives of people in the Northwest. We continue to have important conversations with various stakeholder groups and are always looking for opportunities to find beneficial solutions.

We greatly appreciate Gov. Inslee’s leadership in fighting the climate crisis and welcome further opportunities to collaborate with regional stakeholders. Our goal is to reach a consensus on the best ways to achieve a clean and equitable energy future while improving conditions for salmon and Southern Resident orcas.

The final draft report from the Washington stakeholder process is valuable in that it reflects many state-wide perspectives, but we must remember that it did not fact-check or validate the claims and opinions of those interviewed. It is important to frame the findings of the report within that context.

The governing process for reviewing the operation of the federally-owned dams is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, which is currently underway. Governor Inslee plans to submit his report as part of the public comment period on the NEPA process, which runs through April 13, 2020. 

The key body of work in the NEPA process is the Columbia River System Operations Draft Environmental Impact Statement released on February 28, 2020. With thousands of pages of analysis and scientific study, it represents four years of input from federal agencies, Native American tribes, and the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana.  

The DEIS clearly demonstrated that the environmental and societal costs of dam breaching continue to outweigh the theoretical and potentially modest benefits to salmon in the Snake River. 

Feds Shift Seattle, Portland Columbia River Environmental Impact Statement Meetings to 'Phone Only' (Bonneville Power Administration)

(PORTLAND, OR) -- The developing COVID-19 outbreak in Washington and Oregon has prompted federal officials to adjust two scheduled public comment meeting for the recently released Columbia River System Operation draft Environmental Impact Statement, the agencies announced today.

Officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and the Bonneville Power Administration decided that the in-person public comment meetings planned for Seattle and Portland will not be held due to the high number of COVID-19 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in those geographical areas and calls from local officials to limit public exposure. 

"Public comments are important, but so is public safety," said Brig. Gen. D. Peter Helmlinger, commander of the Corps' Northwestern Division.  "In order to achieve both, we added teleconference options for the public."

In all, six phone-in opportunities have been added to the ways the public can submit comments during the comment period.

The decision to shift the Seattle and Portland meetings to "phone only" is also consistent with calls from state and county elected leaders and health officials.  Wednesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown imposed restrictions on all gatherings larger than 250 people.  These directly affected the Seattle and Portland venues.

Details on when and how to call into the phone sessions will be posted at www.crso.info. The agencies will continue to monitor the public health situation and make further adjustments as needed.  The public is encouraged to monitor the website for any updates.

The draft EIS is available for public review online at https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-II/public/action/eis/search (EPA's searchable EIS database) or www.crso.info.

Northwest Public Power Association Hires New Director of Learning & Workforce Development (Northwest Public Power Association)

(VANCOUVER, WA) -- The Northwest Public Power Association has hired Mike Hyatt-Evenson to be the association’s director of learning and workforce development effective February 18. Hyatt-Evenson fills the position left by Elaine Dixon, who retired earlier this year.

Hyatt-Evenson comes to NWPPA with nearly 20 years of leadership experience in the learning and development industry. For the past 15 years, he has served as the head of global sales learning and development for Verizon Media and worked for Yahoo! before it was purchased. In these positions, he developed learning strategies; managed a team of learning and development professionals; and partnered with business leaders and influencers to build learning programs that furthered organizational goals and strategy.

Public Power Council Responds to Oregon Governor’s Stance on Removal of Snake River Dams (Public Power Council)

(PORTLAND, OR) -- The Public Power Council acknowledges today’s letter from Oregon Governor Brown concerning the long-term future of the federal projects on the Lower Snake River. Because of the complexity of impacts, and the variety of stakeholder interests, PPC is eagerly anticipating the release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the Columbia River System Operation (CRSO) process before evaluating specific alternatives.

It is particularly unfortunate timing that Oregon took a position for breaching federal multipurpose projects just ahead of the release of the draft CRSO EIS. All parties are free to weigh in, but the future of any federal project is squarely a federal decision.

The CRSO EIS process is the appropriate venue for consideration of the operation of the federal hydropower system and how to balance its benefits and impacts for the entire Pacific Northwest. With the release of the draft EIS just days away, Oregon’s position may hinder the potential for collaboration among the diverse stakeholders in the region.

Breaching of the Lower Snake River projects would have broad economic consequences for the region, including the 25 percent of Oregon ratepayers served by non-profit, public utilities that rely on the Bonneville Power Administration for reliable, economic, and low-carbon power. Moreover, Oregon’s position substantially undermines the state’s own environmental goals. We appreciate the acknowledgment of the key role of hydropower in our region. The federal hydro system, including the Lower Snake River projects, represents the nation’s largest source of flexible, reliable, and carbon-free electricity. Degradation of the hydro system exacerbates the challenges of climate change rather than moving towards solutions.

The parties that decide to abandon the search for collaborative solutions should not continue to reap the benefits of that collaboration, including the fish and wildlife mitigation funding those parties receive from Bonneville’s ratepayers.

It is our sincere hope that all parties realize the benefits of continued cooperation rather than division.

About the Public Power Council

The Public Power Council, established in 1966, is an association that represents over 100 consumer-owned electric utilities in the Pacific Northwest. PPC’s mission is to preserve and protect the benefits of the Federal Columbia River Power System for consumer-owned utilities. PPC is a key forum to identify, discuss and build consensus around energy and utility issues.

Response from Northwest RiverPartners to Letter From Governor Brown on the Lower Snake River Dams (Northwest RiverPartners)

By Kurt Miller, Executive Director, Northwest RiverPartners

(VANCOUVER, WA) -- Northwest RiverPartners and its members advocate for a clean energy future that embraces the preservation of fish & wildlife and doesn’t leave vulnerable communities behind.

Our organization supports the lower Snake River dams (LSRD) because of the large amount of carbon-free, affordable electricity they produce as well as the economic base these dams provide for Pacific Northwest agricultural workers.

While we appreciate the intention behind Governor Brown’s letter, and we support her near-term practical suggestions for increased fish hatchery production, we are disappointed by her advocacy for breaching the LSRD as a long-term solution.

We believe that the many billions of dollars it would take to breach the dams and replace their capabilities would be much more effectively spent on cleaning up the Puget Sound, where the Southern Resident orcas spend most of their lives.

It is well documented that the Puget Sound suffers from high levels of toxicity which affect both Pacific Salmon and orcas. Salmon in the Puget Sound have been found with measurable levels of antidepressants, nicotine, herbicides, and even cocaine in their systems. Because orcas eat large amounts of salmon, these toxins become concentrated in their fat. These substances may be passed along to orca calves through their mothers’ milk.

It will take massive investments and the whole region pulling together to repair the Puget Sound and its tributaries so that the area is suitable for healthy salmon and orca populations.

NEPA Process

We respect the Governor’s ability to offer an opinion on the LSRD, but it is important to note that the federal National Environmental Policy Act governs the operations of the federal dams.

The NEPA process takes a holistic approach, examining fish and wildlife, socioeconomic aspects, power supply, and irrigation and barging. We are confident that this comprehensive examination will find that the best course for the Pacific Northwest is to keep the lower Snake River dams in place. The NEPA Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the LSRD is scheduled to be released to the Federal Register on 2/28/20.

Pacific Northwest Energy Shortage

As Gov. Brown has stated, it is imperative that we preserve our hydropower system to help achieve our long-term climate goals and safely add intermittent renewables, such as wind and solar power, to the grid.

However, what is conspicuously missing from the Governor’s comments is the dire situation the Pacific Northwest currently faces due to the very real possibility of a regional energy shortage.

Pacific Northwest utilities are shutting down thousands of megawatts of coal generation plants to help fight climate change. Most energy forecasters are now predicting the possibility of an energy shortage or even region-wide blackouts. Breaching the LSRD--which can generate enough carbon-free energy each year to power a city the size of Seattle--would greatly increase the risk to the Pacific Northwest.

Contrary to dated reports, the capabilities of these dams cannot be easily or inexpensively replaced. A recent analysis showed that the energy costs, alone, for LSRD replacement would be close to $1 billion annually, It would also require new long-distance transmission lines to be constructed and the installation of untested amounts of utility-scale batteries.

At a time when the region is very concerned about equitable energy solutions, this kind of cost increase would be particularly punishing to vulnerable communities across the Pacific Northwest.

Salmon

We collectively share the responsibility to preserve endangered salmon and look to decarbonize our economy in responsible ways. NWRP embraces science-based efforts to that end.

Recent science has questioned the potential benefit of breaching the LSRD for salmon recovery. The NOAA Fisheries Science Center recently published a peer-reviewed study[1] that brings into serious question the benefit that increased spill levels or dam breaching would mean for Snake River salmon.

Additionally, researchers have noted a near synchronous decline in worldwide salmon populations, likely related to climate change and its effect on the oceans. Our oceans are sick with excess heat and carbon, resulting in acidification and the loss of prey critical to salmon.

Given this trend, it seems very unlikely that we can restore healthy Snake River salmon populations until our oceans return to a healthy state. This is a key reason we believe it is wrong to remove the LSRD, which can displace as much carbon as two Boardman coal plants running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

If we truly want to save salmon, we need to protect our oceans from excessive heat and carbon. If we genuinely want our clean energy future to include everyone, we need it to be affordable. To do both, the Pacific Northwest needs the lower Snake River dams.

[1] “Associations among Fish Length, Dam Passage History, and Survival to

Adulthood in Two At-Risk Species of Pacific Salmon”, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society

About Northwest RiverPartners

Northwest RiverPartners is a member-driven organization that serves not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. We also proudly represent partners that support clean energy, low-carbon transportation, and agricultural jobs.

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Pacific Northwest Waterways Association Reacts to Oregon Governor's Snake River Dams Letter (Pacific Northwest Waterways Association)

(PORTLAND, OR) -- The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association reacted today to Oregon Governor Kate Brown's Feb. 11 letter to Washington Governor Jay Inslee, expressing Brown's support for breaching the four lower Snake River dams.

"We share Governor Brown's passion for the recovery of the three southern resident orca pods that frequent Puget Sound, and the Snake River salmon runs that make up a portion of those orcas' diet. But the timing of the governor's letter is surprising. The federal agencies that operate the lower Snake River dams and others in the Columbia Basin are currently conducting a comprehensive science-based evaluation of salmon and the river system, and will issue a draft report and recommendations at the end of February. That report is being developed in collaboration with and input from a variety of Oregon and Washington state agencies," said PNWA Executive Director Kristin Meira.

"The States of Oregon and Washington, like all other partners and stakeholders of these federal projects, will have an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the draft environmental impact statement in just a few weeks. Indeed, Governor Inslee's office commissioned a $750,000 stakeholder engagement process to inform his review and feedback. It is surprising to see a letter of this nature, expressing a position for the State of Oregon for an extreme approach on the river system, prior to the release of the federal agencies' proposed operations," Meira said.

"PNWA is also concerned about the scientifically inaccurate information in the letter. Its portrayal of the role and importance of the lower Snake River dams in the survival of the southern resident orcas is at odds with information available from NOAA Fisheries, the federal agency responsible fro the recovery of both orcas and Chinook salmon," Meira said.

"The lower Snake River dams are federal projects. Since their construction in the 1960s and 1970s, every presidential administration and every Congress has recognized the immense benefits to the region those projects provide, and funded their continued operation accordingly and without interruption," Meira said.

As conversations continue in the region and the federal study process moves forward, PNWA will continue to support clean renewable hydropower, efficient barge transportation, and science-based salmon recovery.

About the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association

The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association is a non-profit trade association of ports, businesses, public agencies and individuals who support navigation, energy, trade and economic development throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The Federal Ban on Marijuana Is Making It Harder for the Cannabis Industry to Go Green (Politico Morning Energy)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- Marijuana is the nation's most energy-intensive crop and federal prohibition makes it difficult for the industry to clean up its act, Politico's Natalie Fertig and Gavin Bade report.

Roughly two-thirds of Americans now live in states with some form of legal sales. But as the market expands, regulators and activists are pushing the industry to become more efficient — and that might require federal legalization. Because marijuana is banned under federal law, cannabis cannot be regulated, nor can its environmental effects be researched by EPA. It also means it cannot be traded across state lines, leading to inefficient, indoor growing operations in states that would simply source their raw product from elsewhere were it legal, the pair reports. And in most cases, banks are banned from providing loans that would allow growers to make sustainability upgrades.

"You have this crazy supply-demand imbalance in the cannabis industry," said Allyson Browne, an independent cannabis policy consultant with a background in renewable energy. "You have markets that are being forced to produce all of their demands within their market, and that may not be the most efficient way to operate."

Chad Bartram Benton PUD General Manager to Retire - New Manager to Be Appointed (Washington PUD Association)

(KENNEWICK, WA) -- Chad Bartram, Benton PUD General Manager since January 2013, has provided notice to Benton PUD Commissioners of his intention to retire effective February 29, 2020.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 28, the Benton PUD Board of Commissioners plan to introduce a resolution that will lead to the appointment of Rick Dunn as the General Manager effective March 1, 2020. The board anticipates final approval of the appointment at its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 11.

Bartram has been with the District for 19 years holding positions of Director of Finance & Business Services and General Manager. Previously, Bartram worked at Energy Northwest for 15 years and served on active duty as a U.S. Army officer for over 5 years.

Dunn, a native of the Tri-Cities area and graduate of Kiona-Benton High School in Benton City, is currently serving as the Senior Director of Engineering and Power Management and has been with Benton PUD since 2007. In his current role, Dunn is responsible for system engineering, distribution design, conservation and renewable energy programs, and power contracts and analytics. Dunn's previous utility experience includes working at Umatilla Electric Cooperative in Oregon and Salt River Project in Arizona. A graduate of Washington State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Professional Engineer license, Dunn has more than 33 years of electrical power and utility systems engineering and operations experience in both the public and private sectors.

"The Commission is pleased with the strategic direction that has been underway for several years relative to maintaining low retail rates, improving customer service offerings, modernizing our electric system, and implementing advanced technologies" said Jeff Hall, President of the Benton PUD Commission. "We are fortunate to have Rick Dunn who is extremely well-qualified to build on these successes as well as address our next set of strategic challenges including acquisition of capacity resources to meet customer loads, securing power contracts and addressing uncertainty in west coast power markets."

"I am very thankful for having had the opportunity to work with such a great group of dedicated and skilled employees, and a supportive Board of Commissioners," said Bartram. "It is absolutely amazing what our employees have accomplished over the last several years. Under Rick's leadership, I see more great things ahead."

Thirty Utilities Across the State Support Snake River Dams (Franklin PUD, Pasco, WA – Benton PUD, Kennewick, WA)

(PASCO, WA) -- In resolutions highlighting their value to the environment and economy of the Pacific Northwest, thirty utilities across the state of Washington continue to support the four hydroelectric dams on eastern Washington’s Lower Snake River. In recent years, environmental groups have targeted the dams for removal.

Boards of Commissioners for public utility districts, and Boards of Trustees for Cooperatives, as well as cities and Energy Northwest continue to pass resolutions firmly stating that the “removal of elements of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS), including the Lower Snake River Dams would negatively impact our utility/city’s responsibility to provide reliable, efficient, clean and affordable power to its customers.”

“Removing the Lower Snake Dams is bad for the state of Washington and the region. Locally they mean efficient energy at an affordable cost and greater energy reliability for Franklin PUD customers,” said Franklin PUD Board President Roger Wright. “But to the region, especially Eastern Washington and the Columbia River Gorge, the impacts are even greater. They impact the lives of thousands of families through irrigation, navigable waterways, and outdoor recreation.”

Without the energy generated by the dams, the reliable flow of energy from the FCRPS would be threatened, a fact illustrated by a 2017 report from the Bonneville Power Administration.

“In January of 2017, when thousands of households across the Northwest needed power to stay warm, the output from wind generators varied from 3000 to 74 megawatts. Those are not numbers you can plan on to reliably power homes and businesses. At that same time, the Lower Snake Dams were generating nearly 1300 megawatts,” stated Dave Ward, General Manager, Grays Harbor PUD in Aberdeen, WA.

As the state moves closer to its new clean energy era there is increasing uncertainty in how utilities will provide reliable electric service. The biggest change is the rapid retirement and planned shutdown of coal‐fired power plants from the northwest power grid. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NWPCC) Power Supply Adequacy Assessment for 2024 identified the possibility that as much as 4,800 megawatts of coal‐fired generating capacity (equivalent to four Columbia Generating Station nuclear plants) could be retired in the region between now and 2028 and that without utility actions to build new plants with the ability to run during peak electricity demand scenarios, there could be a 26% probability by 2026 that grid operators may have to resort to some level of blackouts to maintain power grid stability. “Removal of the Snake River dams will erode the clean power supply portfolio that 135 BPA customers rely upon,” said Benton PUD Commissioner Jeff Hall. “Where will BPA customers turn to make up for the loss of this low‐cost baseload power supply?”

Proponents of dam removal often cite the impact the dams have on the salmon runs that Southern Resident Killer Whales rely on for survival. Numerous studies dispute that claim including fact sheets from NOAA Fisheries, the federal agency responsible for the recovery and livelihood of salmon.

Operators of hydroelectric facilities spend billions of dollars on programs to allow dams to coexist with the environment. Those programs have made a real difference, and dams and salmon can and do coexist. NOAA Fisheries reports show strong numbers of salmon making it downriver to the ocean and increasing numbers making it back upriver to spawn. To remove those dams would be a shortsighted error, driven by emotion rather than the facts.

Studies carried out by several groups including NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency have shown that predation, ocean conditions, pollution and other factors have greater, far-reaching effects on salmon over their lifespan than the relatively brief period they spend around hydroelectric dams.

Many of the resolutions also highlight the irony that comes from the State Legislature passing a bill calling for a 100% emissions-free power system by 2045 called the Clean Energy Transformation Act, or CETA, while at the same time, environmental groups are seeking to dismantle parts of the infrastructure that make that clean, carbon‐free energy possible.

“Washington is leading the way in clean energy because of hydropower and yet there are those who would seek to cut the knees out of that system,” said Skolrood, Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner. We have made huge strides toward a 100% clean energy industry. Why in the world would we want to start moving backwards?”

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Mike Gonzalez Named New Senior Manager of Public Affairs at Franklin PUD (Franklin PUD, Pasco, WA)

(PASCO, WA) -- Franklin PUD (Pasco, Wash.) welcomes Mike Gonzalez as the new senior manager of public affairs. Gonzalez will be responsible for advocating Franklin PUD’s policy positions; developing and maintaining positive customer relationships; identifying and promoting priorities important to the electric industry today. He will also be responsible for Franklin PUD’s communication strategy, ensuring that the needs of their diverse customer base are met.

Gonzalez was most recently the 4 p.m. news anchor at the NBC affiliate in Phoenix, Ariz. He also has strong ties in the Tri-Cities where he was the news director and evening anchor at KAPP/KVEW ABC. There he managed daily operations, branding, and marketing for the news department in their Tri-Cities and Yakima bureaus. He also spent nearly seven years at KXLY ABC in Spokane as a morning and primary evening news anchor. He also held executive producer and managing editor roles in Raleigh, N.C., where he worked at WNCN NBC.

In his spare time, he loves spending time with his wife and three kids and blogging about food. “I’m so grateful to start the next chapter of my career here in eastern Washington and look forward to being a part of the Franklin PUD team as we serve our community” said Gonzalez.