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.