NWAEP Lunch and Learn: Removing Lower Snake River Dams: Dammed if you Do, Dammed if you Don’t

NWAEP Lunch and Learn in collaboration with Cascadia Climate Action

Snake River Dams:
Dammed if you Do, Dammed if you Don't

Presented by Dr. James Conca

April 20, 2021   •   12-1:30 PM

An Idaho congressman wants to end the salmon wars by removing select hydroelectric dams, replacing the electricity lost, paying communities and businesses, and giving American Indian tribes more power. The $33 billion proposal by U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson of East Idaho, would be funded by a federal infrastructure bill.

However, removing these dams and re-establishing normal fish runs will take almost 25 years, completed long after the critical time necessary to help salmon and other fish. More immediate actions, for much less money, could happen in time to really make a difference. This discussion will cover dams in general, their numbers, uses and removal. And if we take a dam down, what low carbon alternative do we replace it with?

There are many opinions about what may become the biggest issue for the Northwest. Join us in starting this conversation.

OUR SPEAKER
Geochemist and Energy scientist, speaker and author Dr. James Conca is Senior Scientist for UFA Ventures, Inc. in the Tri-Cities, Washington, a Trustee of the Herbert M. Parker Foundation, an Adjunct Professor at Washington State University in the School of the Environment, an Affiliate Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a Science Contributor to Forbes on energy and nuclear issues. Conca obtained a Ph.D. in Geochemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1985, a Masters in Planetary Science in 1981, and a Bachelors in Geology and Biochemistry from Brown University in 1979.

This presentation is being hosted in collaboration with Cascadia Climate Action. You can learn more about Cascadia Climate Action and consider donating at http://cascadiaclimateaction.org/

If you have any questions or would like to contact someone about this event, please reach out to Josh Jensen, NWAEP Board Member, at jjensen@anchorqea.com