NW Energy Coalition: ‘Lower Snake River Dams Can Be Removed’
The Salmon River, home to some of the finest salmon and steelhead rearing water in the world, awaits the return of Idaho’s iconic fish after removal of the LSRDs. A new NWEC paper says their removal is not only fiscally responsible, but called generational updates routine for the energy industry. Photo: Cameron Karsten
Changes in energy systems ‘routine’ and shows clean, firm power in the region either already available or being planned are more than sufficient to replace lower Snake River dams.
By Daniel Ritz, IWF Staff
The NW Energy Coalition recently published a paper providing an overview of power generation by the lower Snake River dams (LSRDs), the ample replacement resources being developed in the region that are less expensive in cost, and the way utilities plan for and then acquire replacement resources as they prepare for the closure of a power generation resource.
The Coalition - made of over 100 civic organizations, energy utilities (including some of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) largest utilities like Seattle City Light and Portland General Electric), and clean energy businesses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia - states that with removal of the LSRDs the region can maintain reliable and affordable energy services while creating new economic opportunities, restoring salmon, steelhead, and other species to abundance.
As IWF has previously reported and BPA itself has recognized, the scientific evidence is overwhelming that removal of the four federal dams on the lower Snake River is necessary to avoid extinction and recover Snake River salmon and steelhead.
IWF understands that ensuring reliable, affordable, and carbon free electricity for all communities in the region is an essential step in recovering Snake River salmon and steelhead. Now energy experts agree this is possible. Below are important takeaways from NWEC’s white paper and will address mayn questions people have about replacing LSRD power generation.
LSRD Power Generation: How Much, When, and Why That’s Important
According to the NW Energy Coalition paper, the LSRDs produce an average of about 1,000 average megawatts (aMW) throughout the year and can produce just over 2,200 megawatts (MW) for very short periods during peak energy demand. Total power generated represents just 4% of the regional electric system.
Importantly, the energy profile of these dams is highly seasonal and varies with river flows. In fact, much of the energy is produced during the spring runoff when when demand is lowest. The LSRD’s produce the most output when the rest of the system is also producing significant output – often in excess of customer demand.
A thoughtful and well-planned replacement strategy that includes a balanced clean energy resource portfolio, including geographically diverse renewable energy projects, energy storage, energy efficiency, and demand response, can replace the ancillary services provided by the LSRD and actually provide better, cheaper, more reliable year-round coverage.
Addressing Energy Needs, Availability, Reliability
The report acknowledges the LSRDs do provide important ancillary services, including operating and contingency reserves, grid frequency support, and local voltage regulation. These services are important for supporting grid reliability, balancing, and recovery in the event of an interruption. However, these dams are not the only resources that can provide these services, nor are they especially effective for this purpose.
For example, while hydro can ramp up and down in minutes to provide grid support, inverter-based resources – like wind, solar and batteries – can respond in seconds and can be stored when coupled with battery storage
Clean energy resources in the region that are available or under development are more than sufficient to meet commitments to retire fossil fuel projects as well as replace the energy services of the four LSRDs.
In 2018, the NW Energy Coalition sponsored a study by Energy Strategies, a Salt Lake City based consulting firm, to look at power replacement options if the four lower Snake River dams are removed. This study found that a balanced mix of new wind, solar, demand response, and energy efficiency to replace the output of the dams would improve reliability due to a more flexible set of replacement resources.
During the most recent round of resource and system planning, the six investor-owned electric utilities that serve approximately 50% of the electric load in the Northwest identified the need to acquire substantial new resources between 2021 and 2030 of approximately: 10,000 MW of wind and solar, 3,200 MW of storage, and 5,000 MW of customer-side resources (e.g. energy efficiency, demand response, rooftop solar and batteries).
The bids received show that there are considerably more resources available to be developed in the region than there is need.
Plainly stated: the region’s clean energy resource potential exceeds the actual need.
Forecasting Affordability
As the graph above clearly shows, the market for new clean energy resources continues to grow, and costs continue to fall rapidly. Additional market expansions, which are under discussion in the Northwest and the West, will continue to drive down costs and increase system reliability. Recently passed state policies and developing collaborative efforts across the region will also continue to drive down costs while increasing the reliability and flexibility of the grid to meet demand.
No energy system is designed to last forever. Changes in customer needs, economic conditions, climate and technology advancements are common in all power systems, and generation projects are retired and replaced to meet changing conditions on a regular basis.
The bottom line is this: for Idaho’s salmon and steelhead to recover to healthy, fishable levels they need a free-flowing lower Snake River; in contrast, with effective and strategic planning the energy benefits of the four LSRDs are replaceable with affordable, non-carbon emitting, reliable alternatives. But don’t take it from us, take it from the energy experts.