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For More Information Contact:
Kathi VanderZanden, PNGC Power, 503-288-1234
Coalition for Smart Salmon Recovery Responds to Federal Decision to Help Salmon and the Economy
Portland, Oregon - 07/06/2004 - The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) released Statements of Decision today on their June 22 Amended Summer Spill Proposal.
Currently, BPA spends on average $77 million on summer spill during July and August to save 24 threatened Snake River Fall Chinook and less than five percent of other healthy, heavily harvested runs. The amended proposal will save Northwest ratepayers between $18 and $28 million this year and benefit salmon in the Columbia River Basin. The federal agencies' Statements come on the heels of NOAA - Fisheries' July 1 letter which concluded that the proposal would "provide the same or greater biological benefits".
"More fish for less money: what's not to like? It's a step in the right direction," said Shauna McReynolds, spokesperson for the Coalition for Smart Salmon Recovery.
"We're glad to see the Corps and BPA move forward with a proposal that will help fish and help our economy. We only wish they went further," said Scott Corwin, with Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative, a Coalition member.
"In an environment where rates have increased dramatically in the last few years, any rate relief makes a difference," said McReynolds, "Our Coalition intends to stay focused on cost-effective salmon efforts."
The Coalition for Smart Salmon Recovery is a partnership of farmers, employers, utility customers, and public power providers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
PNGC Power is a Portland-based electric power services cooperative owned by 15 Northwest electric distribution cooperative utilities. In 1996, the company became the first electric cooperative in the country to receive a power marketing license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. PNGC Power creates value for its member systems by providing sophisticated power management, technical innovation and cutting edge customer services and products. More information about PNGC Power can be found at www.pngcpower.com.
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