Salmon and steelhead are icons of the Pacific Northwest – important to both the region's culture and economy. Yet many runs in the Columbia River Basin are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Hydroelectric dams that harness the Columbia and Snake Rivers for power production are the biggest killers of these fish and threaten other fish and wildlife. By striking a balance between dams, energy and salmon, we can enjoy clean energy, wild salmon, and healthy fish and wildlife populations.
Bob Rees of the Northwest Guides and Anglers Association has an editorial in The Oregonian today on how changes to the dam system recommended by scientists and fishermen are bringing back wild salmon. But we still have farther to go.
Working Snake River for Washington, a collaboration of clean energy proponents, conservationists, salmon and orca advocates, commercial and recreational fishermen, farmers and businesses, is a response to the government’s two-decade, multi-billion-dollar failure to craft a lawful, science-based federal plan that protects the Columbia Basin’s endangered wild salmon and steelhead.
On Tuesday, 120 Western Washington business owners and community leaders wrote to U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell urging their leadership in solving the Northwest salmon crisis. The open letter to the senators also appears as a full-page ad in today’s Puget Sound-based weekly, the Stranger.
These leaders want the senators to bring together all interests —farmers, fishermen, energy users, business owners and local communities — to craft a durable, science-based and economically viable salmon restoration plan. They acknowledge past tensions surrounding the salmon issue, but note the enormous economic opportunity if Washington can forge an effective long-term solution.
A federal judge repeatedly warned the federal government that only big changes to proposals for hydro dams would guarantee approval. Instead, the Obama administration has presented a plan that looks very much like the Bush strategy.
Read the full article on Crosscut.com
On April 19, British Columbia’s government announced its decision to move ahead with the highly controversial Site C hydropower project on the Peace River in northeast B.C.
Environmentalists, clean-energy advocates, tribes and other affected communities question the need for the $6.6 billion, 900-megawatt plant and cite both its shaky economics and environmental impacts…
Eastside/Westside fishing groups, clean energy advocates, business leaders and conservationists unveil project, seek leadership from Washington state’s U.S. senators
Business leaders, fishing and recreation groups, conservation organizations and clean energy advocates today announced the launch of Working Snake River for Washington. The project — part of a process begun in Eastern Washington by fishing, business and [...]
Salmon’s got a problem with all the garbage and toxins people throw into his home so he has a simple solution to fight pollution. Check out People For Puget Sound and Visual Media Group’s Earth Day Everyday video for a good laugh.
CBC reports on a proposed dam project that local tribes and environmental groups say would destroy farmlands, displace wildlife and release unacceptable amounts of greenhouse gasses.
NW Energy Coalition member organizations Sierra Club of B.C. and the David Suzuki Foundation are featured in the article which you can find here.
Light in the River’s reports, and the dialogue we hope they engender, will offer and explore solutions that jointly counter global warming; preserve healthy waters, fish, farms and communities; and advance initiatives to achieve both goals.
November 6, 2009
NW Energy Coalition and Save Our Wild Salmon Comments on
Draft Sixth Northwest Power Plan
Prepared by Steve Weiss and Nancy Hirsh, NW Energy Coalition
Introduction
The NW Energy Coalition (Coalition) and Save Our Wild Salmon (SOS) applaud Northwest Power and Conservation Council members for recognizing the wealth of clean energy opportunities in [...]
The NW Energy Coalition is an alliance of more than 100 environmental, civic, and human service organizations, progressive utilities, and businesses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia. We promote development of renewable energy and energy conservation, consumer protection, low-income energy assistance, and fish and wildlife restoration on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
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