Representative Doc Hastings YAKIMA: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

After sending several letters to Congressman Hastings reguarding Salmon and Steelhead issues in the Pacific Northwest, today I recieved this mailing form his office. Must have got on an e-mail mailing list from his office. To say the least it was not what I expected.

Hastings Testifies at Hearing, Urges Congress to Embrace Hydropower as Clean, Renewable Energy Source

Today Congressman Hastings testified at a House Water and Power Subcommittee hearing about the role of hydropower in meeting our nation’s energy needs. Hastings’ testimony focused on hydropower’s benefits as the “cleanest, most efficient and renewable energy source available.
Hastings’ testimony, as prepared, follows:
“Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and my friend, Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers, for holding this very timely and important hearing.
At the outset, I want to recognize two witnesses here today from eastern Washington that truly recognize the benefits of hydropower—my good friend Washington State Senator Bob Morton, a leader in the Washington legislature with a long record on natural resources and energy; and Tim Culbertson, General Manager of Grant County Public Utility District. I am pleased that Grant PUD was recently awarded a new license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that will continue the operation of two non-federal dams on the Columbia River in my congressional district—which produce 2,000 megawatts of clean, renewable hydropower.
With gas prices at historically high levels, the national debate centered on the scientific validity of global warming, how best to reduce carbon emissions, and how to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and produce more American-made energy, it is very appropriate to have a discussion about the merits of the cleanest, most efficient and renewable energy source available.
Here are some important facts: (1) annual hydropower output is equivalent to the energy produced from 200 million barrels of oil; (2) hydropower is the most efficient form of electricity generation; (3) hydro “backs up” other renewable sources—such as wind and solar—that are not reliable on their own; and (4) hydropower offsets more carbon emissions than all other renewable energy sources combined.
The Pacific Northwest is a major beneficiary of hydropower, supplying nearly 75% of Washington’s electricity, nearly 80% of Idaho’s, and over 60% in Oregon. Montana, California and other western states also rely on hydropower as a major energy source. According to a report by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, the level of carbon emissions in the Northwest is the lowest in the nation—because of hydropower.
I might add that in addition to several hydropower dams, the area of central Washington that I represent is home to the only nuclear plant in the Pacific Northwest. I am a strong proponent of nuclear power as another safe, non-carbon emitting energy source to bolster our domestic energy security.
Regrettably, a federal judge has forced changes to Northwest dams that have eliminated 550 megawatts of clean hydropower during critical summer months. And several interest groups actually favor tearing out hydropower dams. These interests ignore the fact that replacing the power from the dams would result in increased reliance on coal and natural gas energy, and millions of tons of increased carbon emissions.
In addition, several federal Columbia and Snake River hydropower dams make possible an environmentally-efficient barge transportation link. Replacing barges which transport millions of tons of grain annually would require literally tens of thousands of diesel trucks on the highways, greatly increasing traffic, gasoline consumption and emissions.
Amazingly, advocates that push so hard to increase our nation’s supply of “renewable energy,” don’t even include hydropower in their definition of what “renewable” is. This defies common sense. According to the Energy Information Administration, hydropower comprises the vast majority—75%—of all renewable sources of electricity produced in the United States—three times the energy generated from biomass, geothermal, wind and solar combined.
I favor a national energy policy that makes clear that hydropower is a renewable energy source, and one that recognizes and rewards regions such as the Northwest that are successfully using hydropower to keep emissions low.
Our nation simply can’t afford new global warming gas taxes or policies that raise gas prices. And we should not have a policy that rewards coal-burning regions with billions in credits while tearing out clean hydropower and ignoring nuclear plants.
With the potential of 10,000 megawatts of new energy—5000 of which could come from existing hydro dams--our nation should encourage new development of this resource—through tax incentives and more research and development of hydropower technologies. We should not make it more difficult for hydro dams to be licensed through the federal regulatory process.
Madam Chairwoman, we can’t magically and immediately create new forms of energy, but we can—and should—do what we can to strengthen and increase the renewable energy supplies we now have—such as hydro and nuclear power.
I want to thank the witnesses for coming here and for your leadership in highlighting this important issue."

</SPAN> I think it is time for another letter asking what exactly his position on Salmon recovery is.
R.Thomson