President Joe Biden landed himself in hot water among critics after revealing he would be willing to take down a clean energy source.
According to Fox News, Biden said during a conservation event Tuesday he is committed to working with tribes, Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) to protect a salmon species in the Columbia River system.
The report noted salmon populations have decreased in the lower Snake River which runs through Idaho and southwestern Washington before running into the Columbia River which then leads to the Pacific Ocean.
Murray and Cantwell have reportedly been open to proposals to bust four dams that are federally managed in the river system, per Fox News.
Additionally, Simpson established a $33.5 billion tribe-endorsed framework to breach the four dams.
Experts are not thrilled with Biden’s willingness to work with the tribes and lawmakers.
“There are several major problems with glibly saying ‘we’re going to destroy the dams,'” Todd Myers, environmental director for think tank Washington Policy Center, told Fox News.
He added, “The first is that it is contrary to the science. The Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries and others did the most comprehensive scientific assessment of the dams ever a few years ago. And it concluded very clearly that we should keep the dams and that salmon can recover with the dams.”
Myers argued the Biden administration is “going against the most comprehensive scientific assessment done by the federal government itself.”
He is also a member of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council.
Myers suggested breaching the dams would be a “remarkable waste” of tens of billions of dollars, especially because the project only has a minor effect on the salmon species, as Fox News reported.
LeRoy Coleman, spokesperson for the National Hydropower Association, addressed the matter of hydropower.
“Hydropower is a climate solution, and it will play a key role in helping the President achieve the goal of a zero-carbon electricity grid,” Coleman said.
He explained, “Climate change poses the greatest threat of extinction to salmon, while hydro is carbon-free resource to fighting climate change.”
According to Coleman, “Breaching dams on the Lower Snake River would be a step backwards in the effort to retire and replace existing carbon emitting plants.”
He argued, “Removing 3,000 MW of dispatchable hydropower capacity during the middle of a climate crisis isn’t the solution.”
Experts are not the only ones slamming Biden for the move.
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) declared that Biden is “perpetuating a dangerous, false narrative with the help of Senators Murray and Cantwell and Representative Simpson and they should be ashamed of themselves.”
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) suggested Biden “may as well have just said he supports dam breaching.”
She added, “The president’s comments underscore his complete lack of understanding of the Columbia River System and the catastrophic implications dam removal would have on communities across Eastern Washington.”
The two even introduced a bill on Thursday to protect the dams.
“Today, I introduced legislation to protect the Lower Snake River Dams and the flood control, navigation, irrigation, agriculture, and recreation benefits they provide throughout the PNW,” Newhouse tweeted.
Today, I introduced legislation to protect the Lower Snake River Dams and the flood control, navigation, irrigation, agriculture, and recreation benefits they provide throughout the PNW.
— Rep. Dan Newhouse (@RepNewhouse) March 23, 2023
Learn more about the Northwest Energy Security Act here ?https://t.co/lqM3UZ6GWd
Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) also introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
“I remain adamantly opposed to breaching the dams. A comprehensive, scientific process made clear dam breaching on the lower Snake River is completely unnecessary and unwarranted,” Risch tweeted.
With the Northwest Energy Security Act, Congress will ensure the Columbia River Power System continues to provide reliable energy & support the region’s transportation, ag, & irrigation needs.
— Jim Risch (@SenatorRisch) March 23, 2023
He continued, “With the Northwest Energy Security Act, Congress will ensure the Columbia River Power System continues to provide reliable energy and support the region’s transportation, ag, and irrigation needs.”
The Department of Energy website states that hydropower makes up 31.5% of total U.S. renewable electricity generation and roughly 6.3% of the total electricity generation in the U.S.
