U.S. DOE Secretary Expresses Support for the Lower Snake River Dams (Northwest Public Power Association)

(WASHINGTPN, DC) - - In response to a question from Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) at a May 7 budget hearing, Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he is “passionately in support” of keeping the lower Snake River dams in place.

“They’ve been tremendous assets for decades,” Wright said of the dams. “We should not spend money to go backwards to reduce our energy generating capacity.”

Wright said hydropower facilities will become more important resources as demand for electricity in the United States rises.

“When America was bold, we built a number of great dams,” Wright said. “They’ve been critical to the economic prosperity of our country, very early suppliers of firm, reliable power … they provide what I call high-value electricity, which means it’s there when you need it and you can hold it back when you don’t need it. They’re very valuable assets.”

NWPPA has long supported keeping the lower Snake River dams, which are a critical power resource in the Northwest.

“Public power utilities across the region deeply appreciate Secretary Wright’s strong endorsement of the lower Snake River dams,” said NWPPA CEO and Executive Director Kurt Miller. “His remarks affirm the essential role these projects play in keeping electricity reliable and affordable for the communities we serve. As demand for clean, firm power continues to grow, the lower Snake River dams remain a cornerstone of our region’s energy infrastructure and a vital asset for not-for-profit, community-owned utilities.”

BPA Safe From Additional Staffing Cuts, DOE’s Wright Tells House Committee (Northwest Public Power Association)

(WASHINGTON, DC) - - At a May 7 budget hearing Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development that there will be no more staffing cuts at the Bonneville Power Administration.

“We [DOE] have been specific in saying we can’t have people leave from Bonneville Power and the other power-marketing agencies, because I don’t think we have room to reduce head count there anymore,” Wright said.

BPA lost 194 employees in the Trump administration’s first round of deferred resignations, and 162 in the second buyout offer, a considerable loss to its workforce of around 3,000. Federal power marketing administrations have struggled to fill key roles, especially in control centers and line crews. NWPPA supports ensuring healthy staffing levels at the power marketing administrations, which s critical for ensuring that safe, reliable, and affordable power is available in the Northwest.

“We sincerely appreciate Secretary Wright’s commitment to maintaining healthy staffing levels at both BPA and WAPA—two agencies that play a vital role in supporting community-owned electric utilities across the West,” said NWPPA CEO and Executive Director Kurt Miller. “As a critical next step, we urge the U.S. Department of Energy to lift the hiring freeze at the power marketing administrations to ensure they have the workforce needed to meet today’s energy challenges.”