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February 14, 2021
E.
WERNER RESCHKE
STATE
REPRESENTATIVE
DISTRICT 56
PRESS RELEASE -
Reschke Implores FERC to Deny Dam Removal
FOLLOWED BY -
Reschke letter to FERC opposing
Transfer of
Klamath River Hydropower Dams and Their Destruction
State Representative E. Werner Reschke (R-Klamath Falls) states
his opposition to dam removal and transfer being considered by
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The first docket
(P-14803-001) allows the transfer of four hydropower dams along
the Klamath River from PacifiCorp to a newly formed company,
Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC). The second docket
(P-2082-063) grants authority to KRRC to remove the four
hydropower dams.
“Removing the Klamath River dams will cause an untold
ecological damage to the river’s fish and other aquatic species
for the foreseeable future due to decades of toxic silt built-up
behind each dam. PacifiCorp understands this risk. That is why
they are pursuing this transfer of hydropower dam ownership to
KRRC, so they can avoid the landslide of impending lawsuits
caused by the ecological disaster of dam removal from the
flushing of these toxins down river,” said Rep. Reschke.
Rep. Reschke has opposed dam removal from beginning concept, as
local elections in Siskiyou County, California (2014) and in
Klamath County, Oregon (2016) show that 75% of the
people directly effected by dam removal oppose this action.
Rep. Reschke’s complete letter to FERC with
more critical reasons for opposing dam removal can be
read online at his legislative website, OR BELOW
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February 14, 2021
Reschke letter to FERC opposing
Transfer of Klamath River
Hydropower Dams and Their Destruction
E. Werner Reschke is State Representative for Oregon’s House
District 56, which encompasses southern Klamath and Lake
counties.
TO:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
RE:
Opposition to Transfer of Klamath River
Hydropower Dams and Their Destruction
Before the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission are two
dockets. The first (P-14803-001) allows the transfer of four
hydropower dams along the Klamath River from PacifiCorp to a
newly formed company, Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC).
The second (P-2082-063) grants authority to KRRC to remove the
four hydropower dams. This transfer is being done so PacifiCorp
can avoid any major liability for the removal of these perfectly
good-functioning hydropower dams along the Klamath River.
Klamath River dam removal must not be seen as an isolated issue.
If successful, Klamath River dam removal will be used as the
template to begin removing other hydropower dams across the
West. This process has already begun with talks to remove dams
along the Snake River. My question to you is simple. Is this
what the Biden administration wants to be known for: tearing
down effective, affordable, carbon-zero, power-generating
infrastructure?
It is critical we understand that such action will further
threaten the capacity of the electric grid in the West. Just
this past year California ran into this reality by experiencing
brown and black outs because there was not enough base-load
power to meet demand. As western coal factories come offline, it
is imperative to keep our inventory of base-load hydropower
dams.
My reasons for opposing dam removal are straightforward:
✦
Hydropower is the most affordable, carbon-friendly and
reliable source of electricity in the West. Modern
agriculture, manufacturing and urban life can only thrive in
areas where consistent, certain and affordable electric power is
available.
✦
Removing the dams along the Klamath River will mean more
water will be required to flow downstream to maintain river
temperatures and levels in order to comply with the myriad of
state and federal agency regulations. This means less water
for threatened species in Upper Klamath Lake as well as
irrigation water for agricultural needs.
✦
Removing the Klamath River dams will cause an untold
ecological damage to the river’s fish and other aquatic species
for the foreseeable future due to decades of toxic silt built-up
behind each dam. Even PacifiCorp understands this risk. That is
why they are pursuing this transfer of hydropower dam ownership
to KRRC, so they can avoid the landslide of impending lawsuits
caused by the ecological disaster of dam removal from the
flushing of these toxins down river.
✦
Without dams, controlling flooding is nearly impossible,
and access to nearby reservoirs of water to fight wild fires
will be lost.
✦Local elections in
Siskiyou County, California (2014) and in Klamath County, Oregon
(2016) — show that 75% of the people directly effected by
dam removal oppose this action. Dam removal is being forced
upon the local communities who rely on these dams by
outsiders that have no vested interest in the community
(economic or social) — only that of political achievement and
virtue signaling.
I stand with the people of southern Oregon and northern
California in firm opposition to dam removal. Dam removal is
terrible policy as it eliminates affordable, consistent,
carbon-zero base-load power and sets the wrong precedent for the
rest of the nation. We can do better. I implore you to reject
dockets P-14803-001 and P-2082-063.
Best regards,
E. WERNER RESCHKE
900 Court St. NE, H-384. Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1456 |
rep.ewernerreschke@oregonlegislature.gov
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