Washington Business Winter 2019 | Washington Business | Page 42

business backgrounder | industry
Powerful Rivers
The Columbia-Snake river dam system provides clean, renewable
energy, transports billions of dollars of commerce each year and
supports healthy local economies, fish and wildlife.
Bobbi Cussins
Organized by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-4, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee convened in
Pasco in September for a public hearing to discuss the value of the Columbia-Snake river hydroelectric
dam system. AWB President Kris Johnson testified before the committee to share how the dams are a
key contributor to Washington’s trade-driven economy, low-carbon footprint and quality of life.
At A Glance
Today, eight dams comprise the Snake
and Columbia river dam system:
Four mainstem dams and four lower
Snake River dams that contain
navigation locks to allow ship and barge
passage from the ocean at the mouth of
the Columbia River and stretch
as far as Lewiston, Idaho.
Hydropower generated through the dam
system delivers clean energy to more
than 60 percent of Pacific Northwest
residents and employers and accounts
for 90 percent of renewable
energy in the region.
AWB President Kris Johnson testified
and provided written testimony at
the public hearing in support of the
Columbia-Snake river hydroelectric dam
system, its economic benefits and the
communities it supports.
One barge carries the equivalent of 134
truck loads of cargo and one tow boat
typically pushes four barges, or the
equivalent of 538 trucks.
42 association of washington business
snake river
Pasco
columbia riv er
ice
harbor
mile 70.3
mile 9.7
Portland
john day
mile 215.6
mcnary
mile 292
mile 191.5
lower
granite
mile 107.5
lower
monumental
738 msl
mile 41.6
the dalles
Lewiston
little
goose
638 msl
540 msl
440 msl
bonneville
340 msl
mile 145.5
265 msl
160 msl
snake river
72 msl
Mouth of Snake River = mile 324.3
8.2 msl
columbia river
MSL = Mean Sea Level
The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee made a rare appearance in Pasco
Sept. 10 for a public hearing to discuss the benefits and contributions made by the
Columbia-Snake river hydropower dam system.
The oversight hearing titled,
“The Federal Columbia River
Power System: The Economic
Lifeblood and Way of Life for
the Pacific Northwest,” was
requested by U.S. Rep. Dan
Newhouse, R-4, who represents
— U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-4
the region.
Newhouse told attendees he
requested the hearing because he “believes it’s important that Congress is educated
about how vital our federal river power system is to the Pacific Northwest.” The
system affords the region clean, renewable power that supports the manufacturing,
technology and other sectors, water for the agriculture sector, navigational
routes for the state’s exports-driven economy, flood control for the surrounding
communities and recreation areas, he said.
On Sept. 10, the U.S. House Natural
Resources Committee held a public
hearing in Pasco, titled, “The Federal
Columbia River Power System: The
Economic Lifeblood and Way of Life for
the Pacific Northwest.”
“It’s important that Congress is
educated about how vital our federal
river power system is to the Pacific
Northwest.”