ARLINGTON, Va. - National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Bureau of Reclamation announced an indefinite pause in their review of NEPA changes for the Lower Snake River dams.

"Hydroelectric power generated by the Columbia River System is the foundation of the electric grid in the Northwest," Matheson said. "The Lower Snake River dams alone produce enough electricity to power 2.4 million homes and are essential to keeping the lights on - especially as demand for electricity skyrockets across the nation. We applaud President Trump and his administration for once again taking meaningful steps to prioritize American energy dominance and ensure that hydroelectricity remain a dependable source of energy for communities across the Pacific Northwest. We look forward to continuing to engage with the administration on this issue and ensuring the dams are protected for years to come."

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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