As noted in “In Our View: Solutions not more studies to save salmon” (The Columbian, July 18), it’s time to stop playing politics with salmon and the future of the Northwest.
The new paper from NOAA confirms what scientists have been saying for years: The four lower Snake River dams are killing our fish. So it only makes sense to put innovation to work to replace the dams’ energy output and meet our clean energy goals. With innovation, and smart investments, we can have a carbon-neutral upgrade for our energy grid. We can also reduce energy costs for ratepayers and equitably meet the region’s agricultural needs. And, as fish mean business, we can grow and maintain a natural resource that pulls in $1.5 billion each year into Washington state.
It’s both feasible and fiscally responsible to provide needed upgrades to infrastructure and save salmon — both of which are essential to our Northwest way of life. Thank you to the Biden administration — and The Columbian — for making it clear that the status quo is untenable. Now it’s time for Congress to provide the federal resources to help pay for the investments. Federal investment is needed, since it’s the federal dams that are most responsible for salmon extinctions.
