Removal Of Snake River Dams Would Hurt Beyond Agriculture

What would the removal of the four lower Snake Rivers dams mean for the Northwest.  The Agriculture community would suffering, losing an inexpensive and safe way to transport commodities to Portland, and eventually the world.  But Todd Myers, Director of the Center for the Environment, said the region would lose it’s carbon free electricity.

“Data looking at projects costs of the alternatives from the Energy Information Administration, we found that it could cost $200 million a year more, to replace that electricity either with natural gas or wind turbines.”

Myers added not only would it be expensive to replace the electricity, but it would be expensive to remove the dams themselves.

“Judges and the Army Corps of Engineers and other folks can say OK, we’ve decided to take down the dams, but the money has to be appropriated by Congress to do that.  And it’s highly unlikely that Congress especially given the current budget situation would appropriate those funds.

Myers told the Washington Ag Network with representatives like Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse in Congress, it’s unlikely the funds will be appropriated.  Myers added there is no guarantee that removing the dams would improve salmon runs.

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