Electric Co-ops Commend Trump Administration’s Commitment to Preserving Lower Snake River Dams

ARLINGTON, Va. - National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson issued the following statement in support of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to preserve the Lower Snake River dams. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright traveled to Washington state today to highlight the administration's commitment to reliable and affordable power.

"The Lower Snake River dams are essential to keeping the lights on across the northwest United States," Matheson said. "Secretary Wright's visit to the Lower Snake River dams reflects this administration's acute understanding of the critical role the dams play in supporting the region's economy. We thank President Trump and Secretary Wright for prioritizing smart energy policies that keep the lights on at a cost people can afford."

The four Lower Snake River dams supply reliable, affordable and carbon-free hydropower to 52 co-ops in eight Western states served by the federal Bonneville Power Administration. Hydropower comprises 80% of BPA's electric generation capacity.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation's landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $15 billion annually in their communities.

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