Newsletter Winter 2020
Annual Newsletter for 2020
Briefing Paper on Simpson Snake River Dam Proposal
Proposal would exchange breaching dams for suspending bedrock environmental laws We strongly support removal of the lower four Snake River dams to rebuild the wild salmon and steelhead populations they have harmed—for the fish, the orcas, and the people who depend on those fish. However, we do not support suspending the nation’s most important environmental laws for an entire generation across the vast expanse of the Columbia River Basin as part of a deal to breach these four dams.
Zero air pollution and zero carbon from all energy at low cost and without blackouts in variable weather throughout the U.S. with 100% wind-water-solar and storage
This study analyzes 2050-2051 grid stability in the 50 U S. states and District of Columbia after their all sector (electricity, transportation, buildings, industry) energy is transitioned to 100% clean, renewable Wind-Water-Solar (WWS) electricity and heat plus storage and demand response (thus to zero air pollution and zero carbon).
awaiting final approval by senior counsel at the Department of Justice (“DOJ”). Once approved
the crux of EPA’s motion is baseless.”
NWEA Response to Indefinite Stay
It is strange to settle a case and then continue to litigate it. But such is the strange path of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in this case. As stated in EPA’s motion for an indefinite stay (ECF 71), the parties have reached a settlement in principle and are only awaiting final approval by senior counsel at the Department of Justice (“DOJ”).
Declaration of Nina Bell
A core component of NWEA’s mission is to ensure that Washington’s water quality standards—which must, by law, protect these salmonid species and the species that depend upon them, such as the Southern Resident killer whales—are both legally and scientifically supported. Often this has required litigation. And often that litigation has proved successful, which I view as a failing comment on Washington’s progress toward protecting these species as the law requires.