Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ORECA) recently partnered with other stakeholders to discuss opportunities and challenges around further electrification of our economy.
Oregonians for Affordable Hydropower is a public education campaign led by Oregon’s consumer-owned utilities — electric cooperatives, people’s utility districts, and municipal utilities serving 1,000,000 Oregonians. We are standing up to a state-led lawsuit that threatens the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS), the backbone of the Northwest’s clean, affordable electricity grid.
A federal court has already ordered 8 hydropower dams to generate less power. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) estimates the cost at $100 to $125 million in added costs, passed directly to consumer-owned utility customers. Lost clean hydro generation is often replaced by fossil-fueled power from the open market — more expensive, less reliable, and dirtier.
Our ask: We are calling on Governor Kotek to use the full authority of her office to direct Oregon to withdraw from this litigation, and to keep her promise to give consumer-owned utilities a seat at the table before decisions are made that impact our power bills and grid.
The campaign website is the hub for the public-facing effort. It offers:
- Fast Facts and FAQs explaining who is impacted and how
- Latest News on the lawsuit and related developments
- Take Action tools to send one-click letters to Governor Kotek and state legislators
Oregonians for Affordable Hydropower — Defend Northwest Hydropower