Resolution against removal of Snake River dams
The bill references an analysis that concluded breaching the dams could raise electricity supply rates by up to 50%, significantly impacting utilities and their customers across the region. Maintaining the lower Snake River dams is positioned as central to achieving clean energy goals and ensuring grid reliability—particularly regarding the increasing levels of variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. The resolution thus promotes a narrative that the dams are essential for not only energy production but also for regional stability and safety during extreme weather events.
Senate Joint Resolution 10 (SJ10) expresses the Montana Legislature's support for the continued operation of the lower Snake River dams and opposes any proposals to breach these critical hydropower facilities. The resolution emphasizes the role that these dams play in providing reliable, cost-effective, and carbon-free electricity to the Northwest, serving approximately 800,000 businesses and households. Additionally, SJ10 highlights the economic contributions of these dams, including their importance for irrigation, recreation, employment, and transportation.
The sentiment surrounding SJ10 appears to be strongly supportive, particularly among legislators and stakeholders concerned about energy reliability and costs. Proponents of the resolution argue that dismantling the dams would have adverse effects on both the economy and the local energy grid. However, the resolution does not address potential environmental concerns some advocates raise regarding salmon populations and ecological impacts of dam operations, which could indicate underlying tensions in the discourse around hydropower management in the region.
Despite the support for SJ10, there are notable points of contention, particularly as some organizations advocate for the breaching of the dams in pursuit of ecological improvement. This resolution, therefore, embodies a conflict between energy interests and environmental advocacy. The bill’s passage illustrates the legislative body's commitment to protecting the existing energy framework while also reflecting larger national debates regarding energy production strategies and ecological sustainability.