Washington Business Winter 2019 | Washington Business | Page 45

business backgrounder | industry
river system highlights
#1 U.S. wheat exports
#2 U.S. corn and soy exports
#1 West Coast wood exports
#1 West Coast bulk exports
#1 West Coast auto exports
2017 u.s. wheat exports
interior
6%
s. atlantic .5%
great lakes
3%
mississippi
15%
Columbia
River
53%
puget sound = 0%
california = 0%
n. texas
18%
s. texas
5%
Pacific Northwest Waterways Association
“What often gets lost in the conversations
inside the beltway is the impact this federal
infrastructure has on the lives of real people
and the immense power the Columbia River
creates for the region.”
— U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-5), chair of the House
Natural Resources Committee
That’s because they generate low-cost, low-carbon electricity
and provide a reliable and efficient means of transporting
the billions of dollars in goods and commodities to and from
Eastern Washington to West Coast ports.
On average, 1 kilowatt hour of hydropower costs customers
0.85 cents, or roughly 25-40 percent less than the cost of other
energy sources, and is a leading factor in Washington’s low-
carbon footprint.
It would take three coal-fired or six gas-fired power plants
to replace the energy produced by the Snake River dams
and removing them would add 3-4 million metric tons of
carbon dioxide to Northwest skies each year, according to the
Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPACC).
And, NPACC’s increased emissions estimates don’t factor in
the growth in carbon emissions that would result from cargo
being moved from barges to rail and freight truck.
“When it comes to trucking, we’re looking at 149 miles per
gallon of diesel fuel to move a ton of goods. For inland marine
transportation, or barging, you’re looking at 576 miles,” Rich
said. “If we’re concerned about the volume of fuel that’s used
and the volume of emissions into our air, inland barging is
certainly one of the most environmentally responsible ways
to go.”
supporting a bright economic future
The dams are an integral part of supporting the shared value
of environmental stewardship, while creating economic
opportunities for families.
“I believe we all share the same goals — clean energy, a
healthy environment, a sustainable future and a strong economy,”
Johnson said. “It’s not an either-or issue, we can have healthy
rivers and a healthy economy.”
Maintained, improved as needed and utilized alongside
freight and rail, the Columbia-Snake river dam system is critical
to ensuring economic security to the state’s agriculture center
and the many sectors that move goods by barge and benefit from
low-cost energy.
“Today, hydropower generation along with the other
authorized purposes of the Columbia River Power System
remains the workforce that powers the economy,” James said.
“It’s not an either-or issue, we can have
healthy rivers and a healthy economy.”
— AWB President Kris Johnson
Video of the Sept. 10 hearing: http://bit.ly/pascohearingcsrd
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