Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) on Wednesday said the Bonneville Power Administration and other federal agencies were not fulfilling their obligations to help salmon in the midst of a drought that has caused electricity prices to soar. In recent weeks, the BPA has twice declared power emergencies that allow the agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to skirt endangered species rules to protect salmon and steelhead runs. Kitzhaber urged the Northwest Power Planning Council to provide a counterweight to the BPA’s approach. But yesterday the power council stuck to its guns and recommended that electricity generation remain concern No. 1 over salmon at federal dams this summer.
