Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines has called on President Biden's Department of Energy (DOE) to address the financial burden that would be imposed on Montanans if the lower Snake River dams were breached. This demand comes after months of the Biden administration attempting to bypass congressional authority and move towards dam breaching.

Daines expressed his concern regarding the celebration of a proposed agreement as a "roadmap" for dam breaching, despite the fact that only Congress has the authority to remove federal dams. He highlighted the incomplete analysis of the cost implications of breaching the lower Snake River dams, stating that even conservative estimates predict staggering costs.

"The economic burden on northwest public power utilities and ratepayers is unjustifiable. This says nothing for growing demand for more electricity at all times and the need for reliability," wrote Daines in a letter along with U.S. Senators Jim Risch, John Barrasso, Mike Crapo, and Cynthia Lummis.

The letter emphasizes the importance of considering the financial impact on Montanans and highlights the need for reliability in meeting the growing demand for electricity. Daines joins his fellow senators in urging the Biden administration to acknowledge the authority of Congress in making decisions regarding the removal of federal dams.

It is crucial for the Department of Energy to address the concerns raised by Senator Daines and his colleagues, as the financial burden of dam breaching cannot be ignored. Montanans and ratepayers in the northwest region should not have to bear unjustifiable costs without a comprehensive analysis of the implications.

The full letter can be read here, providing a detailed account of the senators' concerns and their call for the Biden administration to consider the financial burden of dam breaching on Montanans.