Gov. Inslee and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D) are exploring options to breach the lower Snake River dams (LSRD) and replace the benefits they provide. The first draft of this report was released on June 9, 2022.
According to the Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement released in 2020, breaching the lower Snake River dams could:
Double the risk of region- wide blackouts
Add an additional 3 million metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere each year from fossil-fueled electricity
Increase the region’s electricity costs by $800 million a year and the Bonneville Power Administration’s power costs by 50%, which could increase energy costs at homes by up to 25% or more
Result in the loss of $540 million per year in regional economic productivity
Result in the loss of 4,900 jobs as a result of higher electricity costs
Reduce social welfare by $458 million annually from the loss of irrigated land and farm laborers
Add 79,000 more semi-trucks to the road each year
The Environment Impact Statement was supported by Biological Opinions from both NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The public comment period for the Inslee-Murray draft report is open until July 11, 2022.
