Public Power Council Urges Biden Administration To Include Its Members In New Columbia Basin Task Force

In a forceful letter earlier this month, the Public Power Council urged the Biden Administration to include its members as a “meaningful part” of the Columbia Basin Task Force, which the Administration’s Council on Environmental Quality formed in June.

Earlier, on December 14, 2023 the Administration reached an agreement with six sovereigns consisting of the states of Oregon and Washington and four Columbia River tribes. The PPC, as well as others, such as the state of Idaho and river users, were left out of those negotiations.

“Our utilities collectively bring decades of invaluable experience balancing complex power grid objectives with those critical to increasing salmon abundance,” the July 2 PPC letter says. “Further, our efforts to have utility industry perspectives and concerns included in the recent federal mediation process that resulted in the Administration’s December 14, 2023 agreement with six sovereign parties were ignored.

“We simply cannot have this scenario repeated given the crucial energy and environmental policy issues upon us.”

The PPC warned that the region’s hydroelectric system could reach a “breaking point” if some of the actions contemplated by the Administration are carried out.

Following up on its December agreement, the Biden Administration released on June 18, a “Tribal Circumstances Analysis” acknowledging the harm 11 Columbia and Snake river dams have inflicted and continue to inflict on Columbia Basin Native American Tribes.

At the same time, the White House CEQ created the new interagency Columbia River Task Force that the CEQ says will coordinate efforts across federal agencies to fulfill its commitments to restore native fish populations. Federal agencies include the departments of Commerce, Energy and Environmental Protection.

These steps advance a historic agreement to work in partnership with Tribes and Pacific Northwest states to restore wild salmon populations in the Columbia River Basin and develop a long-term strategy to meet the clean energy, transportation, and other key needs of the region, a Biden Administration news release said in June.

PPC says it is the largest trade organization that advocates for the interests of more than 100 non-profit, consumer-owned Pacific Northwest electric utilities across six states, all served to some extent by the Bonneville Power Administration.

PPC utilities are “ready and willing to be a constructive, integral resource for this Task Force in its Columbia River Basin efforts going forward,” the letter says. “Conversely, the absence of substantive input from Northwest public utilities could lead the Task Force to commit to actions that have unintended consequences – severe enough to create major disruptions impacting public health and safety for millions of Americans, with lasting negative impacts on our regional and national economies. Public power’s unique position as stewards of the Northwest’s diverse hydropower-dominated electricity system, in partnership with BPA, underscores the necessity of having our perspective included in the Task Force’s dealings.”

The letter reminded the Administration of the 1980 Northwest Power Act, a statute already in place, which the PPC says is the “key statutory guidance” for the region’s hydropower system and fish and wildlife program.

The “backbone of the Northwest’s electric grid has, and continues to be, our region’s phenomenal hydropower system,” the letter says. “The Northwest’s underserved and economically disadvantaged communities in rural, suburban, and urban areas are among the beneficiaries of this reliable and clean electricity marketed by BPA, as are many Tribal communities.”

It says that the Administration “has admirably sought to right historical wrongs to Tribal communities,” but that it should consider “how the wrongs of the past are carefully and tactfully addressed by the US Government so as not to create new unintended consequences for ratepayers of the non-profit, public power utilities in the Northwest, including Tribal ratepayers.”

Public power has funded through its customer rates an average of $685 million a year over the past decade for fish and wildlife mitigation in partnership with federal agencies and Tribes, PPC says.

“BPA data shows about 45 percent of this fish and wildlife program is carried out by Tribes and Tribal entities, which provides jobs, economic benefits, and skill retention in local communities,” the letter says. “However, if BPA is placed in a position of economic instability, these continued annual investments and resulting benefits are also at risk.”

Northwest electricity demand is expected to grow by more than 30 percent in the next decade, “so actions that further reduce its capabilities at a time of intense and growing need would be a colossal step backward for our region.

“These forces of supply and demand – combined with high operational uncertainty should our zero carbon-emitting hydro system face further restrictions – will likely result in large power rate increases and poor reliability that will significantly harm the Pacific Northwest economy,” the letter says.

“We fear there is a breaking point approaching fast, should the US Government place additional constraints on hydro projects, move forward with the breaching of dams or conduct other efforts that further constrain our region’s clean hydro system – the result would not just dry up the existing mitigation efforts that employ Tribal partners, but also potentially cause catastrophic service disruptions, blackouts, and rate shocks that would reverberate through the economy.”

Consideration of these perspectives is vital for the Task Force to make informed recommendations, the letter concludes.

The PPC letter can be found at https://www.ppcpdx.org/wp-content/uploads/PPC.ColumbiaBasinTaskForce-7.2.24-FINAL.pdf

The Tribal Circumstances Analysis is here. https://www.doi.gov/media/document/tribal-circumstances-analysis

For background, see:

— CBB, June 21, 2024, ADMINISTRATION REPORT DESCRIBES HARM OF DAMS TO COLUMBIA BASIN TRIBES, WHITE HOUSE SETS UP TASK FORCE TO COORDINATE BASIN SALMON RECOVERY, HTTPS://COLUMBIABASINBULLETIN.ORG/ADMINISTRATION-REPORT-DESCRIBES-HARM-OF-DAMS-TO-COLUMBIA-BASIN-TRIBES-WHITE-HOUSE-SETS-UP-TASK-FORCE-TO-COORDINATE-BASIN-SALMON-RECOVERY/

— CBB, March 1, 2024, BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, STATES, TRIBES FORMALLY SIGN BILLION-DOLLAR COLUMBIA BASIN RESTORATION INITIATIVE TO RECOVER SALMON, STEELHEAD, HTTPS://CBBULLETIN.COM/BIDEN-ADMINISTRATION-STATES-TRIBES-FORMALLY-SIGN-BILLION-DOLLAR-COLUMBIA-BASIN-RESTORATION-INITIATIVE-TO-RECOVER-SALMON-STEELHEAD/

— CBB, Feb. 9, 2024, FEDERAL JUDGE APPROVES YEARS-LONG PAUSE ON BASIN SALMON RECOVERY LITIGATION SO PARTIES CAN PURSUE TRIBAL-STATES-FEDS RESTORATION PLAN, HTTPS://CBBULLETIN.COM/FEDERAL-JUDGE-APPROVES-YEARS-LONG-PAUSE-ON-BASIN-SALMON-RECOVERY-LITIGATION-SO-PARTIES-CAN-PURSUE-TRIBAL-STATES-FEDS-RESTORATION-PLAN/

— CBB, Feb. 9 2024, PUBLIC POWER COUNCIL SEEKS NINTH CIRCUIT REVIEW OF BPA’S ACTIONS REGARDING SALMON RECOVERY MOU, HTTPS://CBBULLETIN.COM/PUBLIC-POWER-COUNCIL-SEEKS-NINTH-CIRCUIT-REVIEW-OF-BPAS-ACTIONS-REGARDING-SALMON-RECOVERY-MOU/

–CBB, Feb. 2, 2024, SALMON RECOVERY MOU A SECRET, RADICAL DEAL? REPUBLICANS SAY YES, ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY BRINGS STABILITY, HELPS FISH, CONTAINS COSTS, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/salmon-recovery-mou-a-secret-radical-deal-republicans-say-yes-administration-officials-say-brings-stability-helps-fish-contains-costs/

–CBB, Jan. 19, 2024, NEW FILING TAKES ISSUE WITH REQUESTS FOR DISTRICT COURT TO REJECT PROPOSED 5-YEAR DELAY OF COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN SALMON LITIGATION, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/new-filing-takes-issue-with-requests-for-district-court-to-reject-proposed-5-year-delay-of-columbia-river-basin-salmon-litigation/

–CBB, Jan. 18, 2024, IF COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN SALMON MOU APPROVED BY COURT, WHAT WILL BE THE ROLE OF NORTHWEST POWER/CONSERVATION COUNCIL? HARD TO SAY, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/if-columbia-river-basin-salmon-mou-approved-by-court-what-will-be-the-role-of-northwest-power-conservation-council-hard-to-say/

–CBB, Jan. 5, 2024, IDAHO, MONTANA, UTILITIES, PORTS FILE OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED SALMON RECOVERY MOU, STAY MEDIATED BY BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/IDAHO-MONTANA-UTILITIES-PORTS-FILE-OPPOSITION-TO-PROPOSED-SALMON-RECOVERY-MOU-STAY-MEDIATED-BY-BIDEN-ADMINISTRATION/

See CBB, December 15, 2023, BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, TWO STATES, TREATY TRIBES REACH MOU ON COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN SALMON RECOVERY, LITIGATION PAUSED FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/biden-administration-two-states-treaty-tribes-reach-mou-on-columbia-river-basin-salmon-recovery-litigation-paused-for-at-least-five-years/

— CBB, Dec. 13, 2023, D.C. SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: NW GOP LAWMAKERS COMPLAIN ABOUT CONFIDENTIAL (LEAKED) DRAFT SALMON SETTLEMENT TALKS, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/d-c-subcommittee-hearing-nw-gop-lawmakers-complain-about-confidential-leaked-draft-salmon-settlement-talks/

— CBB, November 30, 2023, Leaked Court Mediation Document Listing Actions and Commitment for basin Salmon recovery draws objections, questions, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/leaked-court-mediation-document-listing-actions-and-commitments-for-basin-salmon-recovery-draws-objections-questions/

— CBB, November 16, 2023, REPUBLICAN U.S. HOUSE MEMBERS REQUEST ALL CEQ DOCUMENTS RELATED TO MEDIATION, SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS ON LOWER SNAKE DAMS, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/republican-u-s-house-members-request-all-ceq-documents-related-to-mediation-settlement-discussions-on-lower-snake-dams/

–CBB, Nov. 3, 2023, COLUMBIA/SNAKE SALMON RECOVERY LAWSUIT ON HOLD AGAIN AS PARTIES SEEK BUY-IN ON ‘ACTIONS AND COMMITMENTS’ NOT YET MADE PUBLIC, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/columbia-snake-salmon-recovery-lawsuit-on-hold-again-as-parties-seek-buy-in-on-actions-and-commitments-not-yet-made-public/

— CBB, Sept. 28, 2023, BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MEMO ORDERS FEDERAL AGENCIES TO REVIEW ALL COLUMBIA BASIN SALMON RECOVERY PROGRAMS, IDENTIFY NEEDS, PRIORITIZE ACTIONS, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/biden-administration-memo-orders-federal-agencies-to-review-all-columbia-basin-salmon-recovery-programs-identify-needs-prioritize-actions/

-CBB, Sept. 7, 2023, JUDGE APPROVES THIRD EXTENSION ALLOWING PARTIES IN LAWSUIT OVER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN SALMON RECOVERY TO KEEP TALKING, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/judge-approves-third-extension-allowing-parties-in-lawsuit-over-columbia-river-basin-salmon-recovery-to-keep-talking/

–CBB, June 29, 2023, NW HOUSE REPUBLICANS HOLD FIELD HEARING ON LOWER SNAKE DAMS TITLED ‘THE NORTHWEST AT RISK,’ https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/nw-house-republicans-hold-field-hearing-on-lower-snake-dams-titled-the-northwest-at-risk/

–CBB, June 1, 2023, ONCE AGAIN, FEDERAL ‘LISTENING SESSION’ ON COLUMBIA BASIN SALMON RECOVERY FOCUSES ON BREACHING LOWER SNAKE DAMS, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/once-again-federal-listening-session-on-columbia-basin-salmon-recovery-focuses-on-breaching-lower-snake-dams/

— CBB, April 7, 2023, WHITE HOUSE LISTENING SESSIONS HEAR ARGUMENTS ON WHETHER LOWER SNAKE RIVER DAMS SHOULD STAY OR GO, HTTPS://CBBULLETIN.COM/WHITE-HOUSE-LISTENING-SESSIONS-HEAR-ARGUMENTS-ON-WHETHER-LOWER-SNAKE-RIVER-DAMS-SHOULD-STAY-OR-GO/

–CBB, August 4, 2022, JUDGE AGREES TO EXTEND STAY ON COLUMBIA/SNAKE SALMON RECOVERY CASE FOR ANOTHER YEAR AS PARTIES SEEK ‘COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS’ https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/judge-agrees-to-extend-stay-on-columbia-snake-salmon-recovery-case-for-another-year-as-parties-seek-comprehensive-solutions/

–CBB, July 15, 2022, WHITE HOUSE ISSUES REPORTS ON BASIN SALMON RECOVERY, COSTS; ‘BUSINESS AS USUAL’ NOT RESTORING ESA-LISTED SALMON, STEELHEAD, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/white-house-issues-reports-on-basin-salmon-recovery-costs-business-as-usual-not-restoring-esa-listed-salmon-steelhead/

— CBB, June 30, 2022, FEDERAL MEDIATORS FOR COLUMBIA BASIN SALMON RECOVERY HOPE FOR EXTENSION OF LITIGATION PAUSE; WOULD GIVE MORE TIME FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/federal-mediators-for-columbia-basin-salmon-recovery-hope-for-extension-of-litigation-pause-would-give-more-time-for-comprehensive-plan/

–CBB, March 31, 2022, WHITE HOUSE PLANS ON BEING INVOLVED WITH COLUMBIA BASIN SALMON RECOVERY AS BIOP LITIGATION TALKS CONTINUE; COLLABORATIVE APPROVES A CHARTER, https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/white-house-plans-on-being-involved-with-columbia-basin-salmon-recovery-as-biop-litigation-talks-continue-collaborative-approves-a-charter/

— CBB, December 22, 2022, NORTHWEST TRIBAL LEADERS WELCOME NEW COMMITMENTS FROM BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AT WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT, HTTPS://CBBULLETIN.COM/NORTHWEST-TRIBAL-LEADERS-WELCOME-NEW-COMMITMENTS-FROM-BIDEN-ADMINISTRATION-AT-WHITE-HOUSE-TRIBAL-NATIONS-SUMMIT/

— CBB, October 6, 2022, NOAA FISHERIES FINALIZES ‘REBUILDING’ REPORT TO INFORM DIALOGUE ON COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN SALMON RESTORATION, HTTPS://CBBULLETIN.COM/NOAA-FISHERIES-FINALIZES-REBUILDING-REPORT-TO-INFORM-DIALOGUE-ON-COLUMBIA-RIVER-BASIN-SALMON-RESTORATION/

— CBB, October 27, 2021, “Federal Judge Approves Pause In Salmon/Steelhead EIS/BiOp Case; Parties ‘In Good Faith Discussions To Resolve Litigation,’” https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/federal-judge-approves-pause-in-salmon-steelhead-eis-biop-case-parties-in-good-faith-discussions-to-resolve-litigation/

— CBB, October 22, 2021, “Parties Put Salmon/Steelhead BiOp Litigation On Hold, Commit To Working Together To Find ‘Comprehensive, Long-Term Solution,’” https://columbiabasinbulletin.org/parties-put-salmon-steelhead-biop-litigation-on-hold-commit-to-working-together-to-find-comprehensive-long-term-solution/

— CBB, Dec. 11, 2020, OREGON FILES INTENT TO CHALLENGE FEDS’ NEW EIS/BIOP FOR BASIN SALMON/STEELHEAD IN CASE REGIONAL COLLABORATION GOES NOWHERE, https://www.www.www.columbiabasinbulletin.org/oregon-files-intent-to-challenge-feds-new-eis-biop-for-basin-salmon-steelhead-in-case-regional-collaboration-goes-nowhere

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Public Power Council Urges Biden Administration To Include Its Members In New Columbia Basin Task Force

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