We at Douglas Electric Cooperative do our best to stay out of politics—that’s not our lane. Our job is to keep your power reliable and affordable. But recently, the state of Oregon decided to rejoin a lawsuit against Bonneville Power Administration, which runs the Columbia and Snake river dams, and is the same system that provides most of the low-cost, carbon-free power in the Northwest.
Oregon’s lawsuit is expected to call for a big cut in hydropower generation—and that’s not just some far-off policy talk. It could hit home for you because Douglas Electric gets 100% of its power from BPA. More than a million Oregonians also count on this clean, reliable, and affordable power to keep the lights on.
In response, I signed a letter with my colleagues from Oregon’s electric cooperatives and consumer-owned utilities to Gov. Tina Kotek. Our message was simple: Now is the time to talk, not fight, over hydropower and salmon. The best way to ensure we have enough clean, dependable electricity—and healthy salmon runs—is to step out of the courtroom and sit back down at the table together.
Right now, the state is using public funds to challenge the very system that keeps the lights on in our homes. In the end, we are helping pay for both sides of the fight, the lawsuit and the defense. Whether it shows up through taxes or higher power bills, we all share the impact.
We have never backed away from our responsibility to protect salmon. In fact, through your monthly power bill, you help fund the largest fish and wildlife mitigation program in the world. Its success proves that hydropower and salmon can successfully coexist.
At Douglas Electric, keeping your lights on is our mission. The hydro system isn’t just about cheap energy—it’s a lifeline in the winter, keeping our homes warm and our families safe. When extreme cold hit last year, those dams were the backbone that kept the power grid functioning when solar and wind could not keep up.
We believe now is the time to roll up our sleeves and work together on real solutions. For more information on how these dams protect communities and support the region, check out the NW River Partners website.
General Manager Keith Brooks