U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy Joins Senators Risch, Daines in Introducing Northwest Energy Security Act

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy today joined U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R – Idaho), Steve Daines (R – Mont.), and others in introducing the Northwest Energy Security Act to protect the four lower Snake River dams. The legislation supports the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) and the many benefits it brings to our region by improving and maintaining hydropower assets, ensuring operations throughout the system are conducted in accordance with the latest federal scientific review, and continuing to allow native salmon to recover at record rates.

“The lower Snake River dams are indispensable to the northwest, and efforts to breach them are profoundly misguided. These dams provide reliable, clean hydropower while supporting critical transportation, agriculture, and irrigation that sustains our region. My Northwest Energy Security Act protects our region’s federal dams so that they continue to power Idaho’s homes and economy for generations,” said Senator Risch. 

 “Protecting the four lower Snake River dams, which generate affordable, reliable baseload power for families and businesses in Montana and across the West, is just common sense and the right thing to do. Energy security is national security, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in fighting to ensure folks can continue to rely on the region’s federal dams to keep the lights on, power our communities, support production ag, and fuel our economy,” said Senator Sheehy.

“We should be increasing baseload power, not tearing it down. The Columbia River System provides reliable and affordable baseload power, and it supports Montana agriculture. I’ll stand firmly against any attempts to breach hydropower dams on the Columbia River System and will always fight to support and expand hydropower throughout the United States,” said Senator Daines. 

Sheehy, Risch, and Daines are joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R – Idaho), John Barrasso (R – Wyo.), and Cynthia Lummis (R – Wyo.) in introducing the Northwest Energy Security Act.

Background
The Northwest Energy Security Act directs the FCRPS to operate in alignment with the 2020 “Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision.”

The four hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River provide multiple benefits to Idaho and the region, including flood risk management, economic stimulus, crop irrigation, transportation, and clean hydropower.

In September 2020, the “Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision” for the Columbia River System Operation Environmental Impact Statement (CRSO EIS) published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration, found that the lower Snake River dams should not be breached. Rather, efforts should be focused on improving and maintaining hydropower assets while working to improve salmon passage and conditions.

On October 21, 2021, the Department of Justice announced a settlement reached between the CRSO EIS plaintiffs and federal agencies on injunctive relief, including a temporary stay on the CRSO EIS litigation until July 2022.