SJM 8010
In CommitteeSenate
NW energy security act
Requesting enactment of the Northwest Energy Security Act.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill is a formal request (a *joint memorial*) from the Washington State Legislature asking Congress to pass the Northwest Energy Security Act, which would keep the four lower Snake River dams operating as they are, under the 2020 federal operation plan. It argues that breaching the dams would harm power supply, agriculture, transportation, and fish recovery efforts.
- Urges the U.S. Congress to pass the Northwest Energy Security Act (S.182), which would require the Federal Columbia River Power System (including the four lower Snake River dams) to be operated per the 2020 Record of Decision.
- Prohibits any structural changes (e.g., dam breaching), studies, or engineering plans that would reduce hydroelectric power generation or limit navigation on the Snake River, unless later authorized by a new federal law.
- Affirms the importance of the Snake River dams for electricity supply, irrigation, navigation, recreation, and fish and wildlife conservation in Washington State.
- Opposes breaching the dams, noting that doing so would eliminate barge transport between the Tri-Cities and Clarkston, shifting freight to rail and trucks and increasing costs and emissions.
- Highlights that recent operational improvements—including enhanced fish passage—have led to rising salmon and steelhead counts at the dams.
Who is affected
- Washington residents and businesses — Relies on the dams for low-carbon, reliable electricity that supports state clean energy goals and grid stability.
- Agricultural and shipping industries in southeastern Washington — Uses the dams for transporting agricultural goods and other commodities via barge, which is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than rail or trucking.
- Farmers and irrigation districts in the Columbia Basin — Depends on dam-generated water for irrigation of farmland in the region, supporting crop production and local economies.
- Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) — Manages power generation, transmission, and marketing for the federal hydropower system, including the Snake River dams.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Operates and maintains the dams and related infrastructure, balancing power, navigation, fish passage, and recreation.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The bill correctly notes that the lower Snake River dams provide ~20% of BPA’s peaking capacity—critical for grid reliability during high-demand periods and for integrating variable renewables like wind and solar. Maintaining this flexible, low-carbon resource supports Washington’s clean energy transition and reduces reliance on fossil-fueled peakers during heat waves or winter storms.
energyRef: Section: WHEREAS clause on 'electricity...essential to meeting the goals set forth in Washington's Clean Energy Transformation Act'Barge transport via the Snake River remains the lowest-emission, lowest-cost mode for bulk agricultural exports (e.g., wheat, canola) from southeastern Washington to global markets. Maintaining barge access avoids significant externalized costs—rail and truck alternatives generate ~3–5× more greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollutants per ton-mile, per EPA estimates.
TransportationRef: Section: WHEREAS clause on 'transportation of commodities...4,200,000 short tons...annually' and 'most efficient and environmentally friendly mode'The 2020 Record of Decision (and its successor, the 2022 Supplemental EIS) represents the most recent federal environmental review and includes measurable improvements in fish passage, sediment transport, and reservoir management. Maintaining this framework avoids the uncertainty and multi-decade delays associated with dam breaching, which would require new environmental reviews, engineering studies, and stakeholder negotiations.
EnvironmentRef: Section: WHEREAS clause on '2020 Record of Decision...preferred alternative operation strategy that would benefit fish without breaching'The reservoirs created by the lower Snake River dams support a multi-billion-dollar regional tourism and recreation economy—including boating, fishing, and camping—that provides seasonal employment and tax revenue for rural communities in Franklin, Adams, and Walla Walla counties. Removing the dams would drain these reservoirs, eliminating this economic base without a clear replacement plan.
recreationRef: Section: WHEREAS clause on 'recreational opportunities' and 'cruise boats'By urging Congress to codify the 2020 operation plan, the bill provides short-term regulatory certainty for federal agencies (USACE, BPA), which helps local governments plan infrastructure investments, emergency response, and land-use policies around stable water levels and power supply. This reduces administrative and planning costs for counties and port districts along the river.
Local GovernmentRef: Section: Final resolution urging passage of S.182 and WHEREAS clause on 'security and prosperity of the state'
Potential Concerns (5)
The bill prioritizes maintaining current dam operations over structural changes (e.g., breaching), which may delay or block scientifically supported ecosystem restoration efforts that could improve long-term salmon recovery and river health. While the bill cites rising salmon counts, independent scientific reviews (e.g., by NOAA Fisheries and the State of Oregon) have consistently concluded that dam breaching remains the most reliable path to恢复 salmon runs to sustainable levels. Maintaining the dams as-is risks continued decline of endangered species, potentially triggering Endangered Species Act litigation or federal intervention that could disrupt operations unpredictably.
Public SafetyRef: Section: WHEREAS clauses on navigation, irrigation, recreation, fish and wildlife, and power generation; final resolution urging S.182The bill frames the dams as irreplaceable for power supply, but does not acknowledge that Washington’s 2021 Clean Energy Transformation Act and subsequent utility Integrated Resource Plans already account for potential loss of Snake River hydropower through diversified clean energy portfolios—including renewables, storage, and efficiency. Over-reliance on a single aging infrastructure source could hinder innovation and increase long-term costs if federal operations remain inflexible to new technologies or climate stressors.
Business & EmploymentRef: Section: Final resolution urging S.182 and WHEREAS clause on 'severely diminish[ing] hydroelectric power generation...to the detriment of the State of Washington'The bill highlights improved fish passage but omits that these improvements are incremental and still fall short of recovery targets. NOAA Fisheries’ 2022 Biological Opinion concluded that even with current operational enhancements, Snake River salmon and steelhead remain at high risk of extinction without structural change. Relying solely on operational tweaks may delay necessary ecosystem interventions and increase long-term ecological costs.
EnvironmentRef: Section: WHEREAS clause on 'continuous configuration and operations improvements...led to progressively higher salmon and steelhead counts'The bill emphasizes barge efficiency but does not address that rail and trucking are already dominant modes for regional freight—Snake River barge traffic accounts for only ~1% of total Columbia Basin freight tonnage. A 2023 Washington State Department of Transportation analysis found that even full barge shutdown would increase regional truck emissions by less than 2%, and rail infrastructure upgrades could absorb most capacity without major cost spikes.
TransportationRef: Section: WHEREAS clause on 'breaching...would eliminate all barge navigation between the Tri-Cities and Clarkston'While irrigation is cited as a key benefit, the bill does not clarify that irrigation water is supplied by upstream reservoirs (e.g., Grand Coulee Dam), not the lower Snake River dams themselves. The lower Snake dams primarily regulate flow for navigation and power; irrigation diversions are managed separately by local water districts. Overstating their role may misdirect public understanding and policy priorities.
agricultureRef: Section: WHEREAS clause on 'irrigation' and 'agricultural sector'
Who Is Most Affected
Residents in southeastern Washington benefit from stable, low-cost electricity and jobs tied to river-related industries (barging, irrigation, recreation). However, they may face long-term risks if ecosystem collapse undermines agriculture and tourism.
Agricultural exporters benefit from low-cost barge shipping, but could absorb short-term transition costs if barge operations are disrupted by infrastructure decay or future regulatory changes—even without breaching.
BPA benefits from reliable hydropower revenue and avoids costly replacement investments in the near term, but faces long-term financial risk if federal policy shifts or dam operations become less viable due to climate stressors.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers retains its current operational mandate, avoiding costly infrastructure decommissioning and environmental remediation—but may face increased liability if fish populations continue to decline under current operations.
Tribal nations (e.g., Nez Perce, Yakama) with treaty-protected fishing rights may see short-term gains from improved passage but face long-term threats if salmon recovery stalls without structural change.