This is so crazy. Tear down these dams which at this point are carbon free, to save a few salmon, yet they push wind power off the East Coast that is proving to be detrimental to Whales.
I live in WA State, and the Wind Farms are a blight to the landscape.
I don’t think these damned dam removal folks have any idea of the New Deal legacy they are trying to destroy here. While the LSR dams aren’t the biggest contributors to the grid by any stretch, the state needs that power for more data centers, etc. and it is some of the cheapest in the nation due to the amortized federal investments. Most of the people who want the dams gone live in the western part of the state, but the biggest benefits flow to the east. It’s infuriating.
The dam removal projects on the Elwha river in WA have a pretty mixed record on salmon runs last I checked. Of course the MO of these folks is just to destroy something and move on to the next campaign without looking at the data. “Science”
I’m guessing these folks all complain about “neoliberalism” too, even though trying to tear this legacy new deal infrastructure down and replace it with high cost low value rebuildable garbage that enriches a few subsidy hogs is just about the most ridiculous way to spend money.
If I remember correctly, eastern Washington was proposed to become a part of the new state of "Jefferson" or of "Greater Idaho" if citizens decide to depart from the Seattle government. It would be interesting to see just how the decision might be based if that secession ever happened. :) Great article.
This ant-dam campaign had been playing out over twenty years. The conservationists have successfully in removing some small dams, the largest slated for removal is the Klamath dam removal in Southern Oregon. Not only have they been after the lower Snake River dams, they want the Idaho Power dams in Idaho as well. This is just another act in a very long play
It would be interesting, Idaho Power gets a large percentage of their energy from those dams. I know they just lost Jim Bridger coal plant, shut down for emmisions.
I was curious about nuclear as well, but that was addressed in a response to someone else. Even without the 2028 timeline, I wonder how the costs (convention and small modular) compare to both the natural gas and renewable scenarios.
Additionally as someone else said, wind farms are a visual blight. There is a proposed Horse Heaven Hills wind farm facing strong local opposition. Backers of the project went to the state first for approvals instead of locally. Backers are also primarily out of state interests, and the power would be sent elsewhere. If you breach the LSR dams and follow the renewable scenario, wind farms such as this will cover the eastern Washington landscape to try to have sufficient capacity. Is there even enough room for all that infrastructure in-state to avoid ruining someone else’s backyard?
This is so crazy. Tear down these dams which at this point are carbon free, to save a few salmon, yet they push wind power off the East Coast that is proving to be detrimental to Whales.
I live in WA State, and the Wind Farms are a blight to the landscape.
I don’t think these damned dam removal folks have any idea of the New Deal legacy they are trying to destroy here. While the LSR dams aren’t the biggest contributors to the grid by any stretch, the state needs that power for more data centers, etc. and it is some of the cheapest in the nation due to the amortized federal investments. Most of the people who want the dams gone live in the western part of the state, but the biggest benefits flow to the east. It’s infuriating.
The dam removal projects on the Elwha river in WA have a pretty mixed record on salmon runs last I checked. Of course the MO of these folks is just to destroy something and move on to the next campaign without looking at the data. “Science”
I’m guessing these folks all complain about “neoliberalism” too, even though trying to tear this legacy new deal infrastructure down and replace it with high cost low value rebuildable garbage that enriches a few subsidy hogs is just about the most ridiculous way to spend money.
Amen
If I remember correctly, eastern Washington was proposed to become a part of the new state of "Jefferson" or of "Greater Idaho" if citizens decide to depart from the Seattle government. It would be interesting to see just how the decision might be based if that secession ever happened. :) Great article.
This ant-dam campaign had been playing out over twenty years. The conservationists have successfully in removing some small dams, the largest slated for removal is the Klamath dam removal in Southern Oregon. Not only have they been after the lower Snake River dams, they want the Idaho Power dams in Idaho as well. This is just another act in a very long play
We can model the cost of replacing those dams too 🙂
It would be interesting, Idaho Power gets a large percentage of their energy from those dams. I know they just lost Jim Bridger coal plant, shut down for emmisions.
Why not NUCLEAR??? HANFORD NUCLEAR. MORE CHINA #1 AP1000 s
Mostly because there’s no way one is running by 2028 when they want to destroy the dams
Sue and Settle has always been anathema to us.
Nice piece, Isaac and Mitch!
E- have you any recommended reading about the broader pattern of “sue and settle”?
Great analysis.
FDR must be rolling over in his grave knowing that a Democratic president is trying to demolish some of his most durable accomplishments.
Very good piece.
I was curious about nuclear as well, but that was addressed in a response to someone else. Even without the 2028 timeline, I wonder how the costs (convention and small modular) compare to both the natural gas and renewable scenarios.
Additionally as someone else said, wind farms are a visual blight. There is a proposed Horse Heaven Hills wind farm facing strong local opposition. Backers of the project went to the state first for approvals instead of locally. Backers are also primarily out of state interests, and the power would be sent elsewhere. If you breach the LSR dams and follow the renewable scenario, wind farms such as this will cover the eastern Washington landscape to try to have sufficient capacity. Is there even enough room for all that infrastructure in-state to avoid ruining someone else’s backyard?