In the Pacific Northwest’s rapidly changing energy scene, are the lower Snake River dams needed?
In its seventh Power Plan, the Pacific Northwest Power and Conservation Council states that in the Pacific Northwest, energy efficiency alone will meet all projected future energy demand and by 2030 and will have saved 4,000 average megawatts – the equivalent production of (an imaginary) 16 lower Snake River dams.
Bonneville Power Administration, distributor of energy produced by 31 Columbia Basin dams, says its average cost to generate and market power is $35.56 per megawatt hour.
Since 2010, the cost of wind energy has declined 62 percent and solar 76 percent. Idaho Power, for example, recently contracted to purchase solar energy at $21.75 per megawatt hour. BPA, contrarily, plans to raise Public Utility District rates by 2.9 percent to $36.60 by 2021.
Meantime, the Pacific Northwest has a 17 percent surplus of power. Since the LSR dams produce only 4 percent of the Pacific Northwest’s power, it fits into that “surplus” margin.
It’s clear that PNW power needs can be met without the LSR dams and at lower cost; and considering the “cost” of losing salmon runs once in the millions, northwesterners don’t need LSR power.
Laurie Kerr
Battle Ground, Wash.
