What They Are Saying: Newhouse Speech “Shifts the Tide” in Dam-Breaching Debate
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, May 13, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) participated as a keynote speaker for the Andrus Center for Public Policy's 2021 Environmental Conference at Boise State University. Titled "Energy, Salmon, Agriculture and Community: REVISITED," the conference reprised the Andrus Center's 2019 conference focusing on the diverse and interconnected factors related to salmon survival, energy production, and economic development throughout the Pacific Northwest.
River stakeholders and partners have since been applauding Rep. Newhouse's remarks and his commitment to ensuring all voices are heard on this important issue:
"In every public debate, a moment occurs that shifts the tide. Rep. Newhouse's comments at the Andrus Center conference created that moment for supporters of a clean, equitable energy future for the Pacific Northwest." – Kurt Miller, Executive Director, Northwest RiverPartners (NWRP)
"Congressman Newhouse is spot-on with his remarks on the irreplaceable value of the dams to our regional economy and environment. We couldn't agree more that real solutions for helping salmon need collaborative partnerships across the PNW. We applaud Congressman Newhouse for resetting the conversation on salmon recovery where it belongs – on an ecosystem wide plan rather than an ideological pursuit of dam breaching." – Jim Klindworth, President, Port of Pasco Commission
"Congressman Newhouse highlights the complexity, nuance and history of salmon management in the Columbia Basin. We thank the Congressman for demonstrating that this issue cannot even be explained – much less solved – using absolutes, oversimplifications, or narrowly focusing on one concept. As the Congressman said, complex problems require comprehensive solutions, and we remain ready to collaborate on science-based solutions that protect both our natural environment and economy." – Kristin Meira, Executive Director, Pacific Northwest Waterways Association
"Rep. Newhouse's pivotal comments at the Andrus Center conference championed a clean and equitable energy future – rightly addressing the importance of intellectual honesty, assessing the situation scientifically, and moving forward with solutions comprehensively." – Tri Cities Regional Chamber of Commerce
"Thank you to Representative Newhouse for the encouraging words at the recent Environmental Conference in Idaho. OWGL agrees our state leaders should be working in a transparent manner to ensure the entire river system is stable. There must be collaboration and willingness to fund existing programs that retain the dams and benefit salmon and the agriculture industry." – Clint Carlson, President, Oregon Wheat Growers League
"We commend Congressman Dan Newhouse on his keynote address at the Andrus Center for Public Policy's 2021 Environmental Conference at Boise State University. His remarks were thought provoking and right on point. In many ways the Tri-Cities is the center of the universe of the Simpson plan and it requires unthinkable sacrifice of our rivers, our dams and our way of life for an unknown outcome. In a community where engineering and science undergird all we are about, from harnessing the power of the atom to optimizing agribusiness we need to demonstrate progress achieved through unbiased science, facts, and data. The four Lower Snake River dams are critical to powering everything from agriculture to industry in communities small and large across the Pacific Northwest and are an important part of clean energy today and into the future." – Rick Dunn, General Manager, Benton PUD
"Congressman Newhouse's speech at the Andrus Center is not only timely and right on the mark, it is one of the best speeches I've read about the Snake River dams in more than a quarter century since I first became involved in the issue. The Boise Airport analogy points out the shallow and often dishonest approach taken by some groups seeking to add tearing down valuable infrastructure to a federal infrastructure funding package. We must keep a focus on sound science and it is about time for a stern reminder that we do just that. We need to get away from alarmist rhetoric and move toward working together to get results that can make a difference. Congressman Newhouse made that case clearly and powerfully." – Alex McGregor, Chairman, The McGregor Company
"Salmon and the lower Snake River dams are both incredibly important to our way of life in the Tri-Cities. We agree wholeheartedly with Congressman Newhouse that the best path forward is a comprehensive approach that supports salmon recovery while retaining the dams and all the benefits they provide to the Pacific Northwest." – Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC)
"As Rep. Newhouse points out, breaching the four lower Snake River dams will cause damage to our industries, our economies and our way of life that Rep. Simpson's proposal won't even begin to make whole. Rather than allowing our attention to be distracted by misguided rhetoric that can't promise solutions, we should be concentrating on implementing the science-based plans, which work with the dams, that have already developed to help salmon recovery." – Ryan Poe, President, Washington Association of Wheat Growers
"Congressman Newhouse's commonsense reasoned argument about the importance of the Lower Snake River Dams is on point. It contrasts knee-jerk emotional politics versus sensible solutions to protect salmon on the Columbia-Snake River system. Today's healthy salmon runs are predicated on robust fishery management to combat the many impacts of changing ocean conditions, predation, pollution, fish harvest and historical actions from generations ago. Thank you for such a great analogy to counterpoint Rep. Simpson's current proposal to remove the Lower Snake River Dams to placate extremist's efforts to remove dams with some grand bargain in an effort to appease narrow visioned proposals in the name of saving salmon. Reasoned, multifaceted solutions are needed; not impulsive actions that have detrimental impacts to our region." – Jason Hogue, President, Pasco Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
"No doubt there are complex challenges that need comprehensive solutions to salmon recovery across the region, as noted by Representative Newhouse. Yet for some, it appears to be all about dam removal, not about fish. In fact, fish can coexist with dams that have fish passage, like those in the Lower Snake River and elsewhere. Breaching dams that provide fish passage, navigation, clean renewable hydro power, and other benefits is illogical from an environmental perspective. The wheat industry opposes such a measure." – Mike Carstensen, Chairman, Washington Grain Commission
"It is with our deepest appreciation that we write you today in recognition of your articulate dialogue of the complexity of preservation of the Lower Snake River Dams. Clean energy production and salmon recovery are intrinsically linked, and a comprehensive approach to their coexistence is the right path for all beneficiaries in the Pacific Northwest. Your words acknowledge the historical and cultural impact of hydroelectric dams, while considering that a balanced, fact-based approach is far preferable to breaching, which addresses a handful of short-term impacts while eliminating opportunity to achieve long-term innovation in a proven clean energy production resource. The Port of Benton supports your position for a balanced approach that works to restore salmon populations by leveraging the scientific acuity of our region. We appreciate your ongoing work on behalf of our community." – Diahann Howard, Executive Director, Port of Benton
"Recent proposals seeking to remove the Lower Snake River Dams are impractical and unworkable, and the Tri-Cities Legislative Council applauds Rep. Dan Newhouse for opposing these efforts, as well as for his steadfast support of the dams and eloquence in advocating their preservation. The Congressman rightly proposes science-based solutions providing for both robust salmon recovery and continued hydroelectric operations. The Tri-Cities has long supported such a balanced, fact-based approach as far preferrable to breaching, which is sold as a solution but would yield only new, foreseeable problems. Central Washington and the entire Pacific Northwest are endowed with innumerable benefits by the dams and their removal would be inadvisable, the loss in clean energy and infrastructure irreplaceable, and the economic damage irreparable." – Tri-Cities Legislative Council
"Representative Newhouse is correct in calling for support of the strategic comprehensive recovery plans already developed by the agencies responsible for recovery. The plans have been developed through long standing consultation with states, tribes and other partners in the region who study and implement the efforts. What is not beneficial are more meetings, forums and ads with theatrics, costumes and hyperbole." – Glen Squires, CEO, Washington Grain Commission
"This is a complicated issue that needs complicated solutions. Rather than breaching dams that are proven to successfully facilitate fish passage, we should be focusing our attention on those dams without fish passage and on other regions where less drastic measures would have greater impacts on salmon recovery." – Michelle Hennings, Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers
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