Clean air or clean water? Climate change enters Northwest dam debate

authordefault
on

The tussle pits power companies against American Indians, fishermen and environmentalists who want dams removed because they have blocked endangered salmon from migrating, threatened Indian livelihoods and devastated commercial fishing off the Oregon and California coasts.

One river, the Klamath, runs 250 miles from southwest Oregon to the California coast, connecting two states where power and water supply have long been controversial issues. Both California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gov. Theodore R. Kulongoski of Oregon are pushing clean-fuel sources. Last year, California passed a law requiring a 25 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. Oregon is also promoting renewable energy use.

Removing the four Klamath dams should be an option, they say, but neither has taken a firm position. Earlier this year, Schwarzenegger proposed spending about $4 billion to build two dams on the San Joaquin River for water storage, an idea environmentalists have opposed.

PacifiCorp, which operates the Klamath dams, had its federal license expire last year, and the government has said it must build fish ladders over the four dams to get a new one, which could cost $300 million and reduce the power the dams generate, potentially making removal a less costly choice.

The company has said whatever is spent to restore salmon, and whether the solution is fish ladders or dam removal, its customers will bear the cost, and the carbon

Related Posts

on

A new Environmental Defence analysis reveals that despite government promises to cut, the amount of taxpayers’ money given to the industry remains high.

A new Environmental Defence analysis reveals that despite government promises to cut, the amount of taxpayers’ money given to the industry remains high.
on

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, a major oil refining group, is once again behind a push to keep cars running on oil.

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, a major oil refining group, is once again behind a push to keep cars running on oil.
Analysis
on

"Climate the Movie" portrays today’s climate denier agenda by rehashing the same old fossil fuel talking points and trolling the left.

"Climate the Movie" portrays today’s climate denier agenda by rehashing the same old fossil fuel talking points and trolling the left.
on

Energy Transfer and Sunoco claimed the substance was not toxic, but residents don’t trust the results.

Energy Transfer and Sunoco claimed the substance was not toxic, but residents don’t trust the results.