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Last month, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced that he and senator Patty Murray were exploring options to breach the lower Snake River dams. Conservation groups and northwest tribes have increased efforts as of recent to remove the four dams located between Lewiston, ID and Pasco, WA. Those dams are located in state Senator Mark Schoesler’s Legislative District. The Ritzville area wheat farmer opposes the idea of breaching the dams.

"The cleanest, most affordable source of carbon free energy is our Columbia and Snake River dams.  Secondly, we have a very clean, very efficient means of transporting not just grains, but fuels, fertilizer, wood products, and tourisim and last, but not least, agricultural irrigation."

Schoesler is skeptical that this process will be any more open-minded than others, calling what's taking place a cloud of secrecy. He added so many across the Northwest benefit from the dams, removal should not be an option.

"The benefits are massive whether you care about clean energy, affordable energy, commerce, of any kind in the region."

Inslee said he and Murray are working on “a rigorous, robust and fast assessment of how to replace those services if we breach those dams.”

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