Misinformation undermines bipartisan efforts to protect millions of Northwest energy customers from rising costs

Vancouver, Washington–August 20, 2024–Northwest RiverPartners, alongside a broad coalition of Pacific Northwest-based organizations representing millions of hardworking people in the Northwest, developed bipartisan legislation to maintain the federal government’s commitment for the Bonneville Power Administration to spend no more than $300 million in additional funds to implement the 12/14 agreement.

These additional dollars come atop hundreds of millions spent annually by ratepaying customers across the region on a variety of programs to restore and protect fish and wildlife across the Columbia and Snake River basins. The language was carefully crafted to ensure that it only applies to the additional resources allocated as part of the 12/14 agreement.

“We have seen a variety of statements that appear to be deliberate attempts to mischaracterize the meaning of the language,” said Clark Mather, executive director of Northwest RiverPartners. “Misinformation does not serve our region or policymakers and doesn’t recover salmon.

“We look forward to continue working on a bipartisan basis to ensure that the millions of people in this region who are struggling with rising costs have a voice at the table and ensure the federal government keeps its commitments to them.”

The proposed language in full reads as follows:

SEC. 513. The funds made available in this act or any other appropriations act for the purposes of implementing the United States Government Commitments in support of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative set forth in the Memorandum of Understanding of December 14, 2023, between the United States, the States of Oregon and Washington, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe, and environmental non-profit organizations, that require reimbursement by the Bonneville Power Administration and do not arise from Bonneville’s current reimbursement obligations, shall be limited to the $300,000,000 Bonneville committed to in such Commitments of December 14, 2023, should Bonneville be required to implement the U.S. Government commitments in support of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative set for in the Memorandum of Understanding of December 14, 2023, between the United States; the States of Oregon and Washington; The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation; the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation; the Nez Perce Tribe; and environmental non-profit organizations.