washington business
significantly to local economies , where it can be up to 30 times more profitable than dryland farming and employ 15 times the number of full-time staff throughout the year , and thousands of seasonal workers …”
The report suggests mitigation strategies , but the strategies are undeveloped , speculative and expensive .
Recreation . The dams have also nurtured tourism and economic development in the region . The Murray-Inslee draft says there are 58 recreational facilities on the lower Snake River , drawing 1.7 million visitors in 2018 . Tourism brings money into the region and supports local jobs . The EIS dryly notes that breaching the dams would have a negative impact on reservoir-based recreation because “ these reservoirs and associated boat ramp access would cease to exist .”
With respect to tourism , “ the cruise industry is one of the most interesting . It ’ s new and expanding rapidly ,” says Chris Herman , senior director of trade and transportation for the Washington Public Ports Association . It ’ s not clear whether the business would continue without the Snake River dams .
achieving the ‘ zero carbon ’ objective
“ The draft report significantly understates — practically ignores — the climate impacts of dam removal , says Peter Godlewski , Government Affairs Director for Energy , Environment and Water Policy at AWB . “ These dams are key to meeting Washington ’ s climate goals and providing a stable grid for our growing economy .”
The Energy GPS analysis concludes that , even with unprecedented development of renewable technologies , “ it is unlikely that state [ clean energy ] requirements are met until 2076 , causing emissions in the Pacific Northwest to increase by 132 million metric tons of CO2 to maintain grid reliability .”
The EIS analysis of the energy impact of dam removal similarly projects an increase in greenhouse gas emissions of up to 9 % if natural gas is used to replace hydro .
Less attention has been paid to the carbon impact of losing the ability to barge . The EIS reports breaching the dams “ would also increase transportation-related emissions for wheat that is currently transported along the lower Snake River by up to 53 %.”
“ Barging is the number one climate-friendly mode of transportation ,” Hennings says , noting that dam-breaching would add 150,000 truck trips annually .
“ There is no credible replacement scenario that sees the state meeting its clean energy goals — or keeping power affordable and reliable — without the dams ,” says Godlewski . “ Simply put , breaching the dams is at odds with the state ’ s environmental and economic goals .”
saving the fish
Spurring calls for dam breaching are declines in salmon populations . Yet , there ’ s little evidence that removing the dams will improve conditions .
The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association , in its comments on the draft report , cited numerous credible studies challenging the idea that the dams posed a major threat to salmon recovery . Other factors , they wrote , must be considered , including “ growth ,
32 association of washington business