Protecting Reliable Hydropower While Supporting Fish Recovery
For generations, the Columbia and Snake River hydropower system has been the backbone of the Pacific Northwest. It provides millions of homes and businesses with affordable, reliable, carbon-free electricity while also supporting navigation, irrigation, and flood control.
Today, the management of this vital system is once again the subject of litigation. Current court proceedings are focused on whether federal dams should be required to spill more water—directing it over spillways to assist fish passage rather than through turbines to generate electricity—and whether reservoirs should be drawn down in ways that reduce the flexibility of the hydroelectric system. A Federal District Court in Oregon has issued an order requiring additional spill, though how that order will ultimately be implemented remains uncertain.
Protecting salmon runs remains a regional priority. However, proposals to dramatically increase spill have not been scientifically proven to significantly improve fish survival. What is far more certain are the economic and operational consequences.
Analyses from the Bonneville Power Administration, Northwest Requirements Utilities, and the Public Power Council estimate that increased spill requirements could raise regional power costs by as much as $140 million. BPA estimates this could translate into approximately a 6% rate increase for the community-owned utilities it serves—including rural electric cooperatives like Wasco Electric Cooperative (WEC).
Reducing hydropower generation also removes critical flexibility from the Northwest power system. Because the hydro system is closely tied to the region’s transmission grid, lost generating capacity increases the likelihood of transmission emergencies and raises the risk of power shortages during periods of high demand.
These concerns come at a time when the North American Electric Reliability Corp. is warning of tightening power supplies across the Western United States. In this environment, the flexibility of hydropower is more important than ever.
At Wasco Electric Cooperative, our mission is to provide reliable and affordable power to the members we serve across North Central Oregon. That is why we continue working with regional partners—including Northwest Requirements Utilities, Northwest Public Power Association, Northwest RiverPartners, Northern Irrigation Utilities, and the Public Power Council—to ensure decisions about the river system consider both fish recovery and the energy needs of the communities that depend on it.
The Northwest deserves a balanced path forward—1 that protects fish while preserving the reliable hydropower that powers our homes, farms, and local economies.
WEC Office Remains Open During Cherry Festival
Last month, I shared that our office would be closed to in-person visits during Cherry Festival due to anticipated street closures around our building. Since then, the Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce has moved the festival to a new location. That means our office will remain open and ready to welcome members as usual. We look forward to continuing to serve you in person.
General Manager Lindsay Forepaugh