Ore. lawmakers OK rate boost to remove dams
Associated Press - February 17, 2009 3:54 PM ET
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Senate has approved a bill to increase power rates for PacifiCorp customers to pay for removal of 4 hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River.
The legislation is needed to put into effect an agreement among farmers, fishers, tribes and others to improve salmon runs and settle a lengthy water struggle in the Klamath Basin.
Under the measure approved Tuesday up to $180 million would be collected from Pacificorp's 500,000 Oregon ratepayers to go toward dam removal.
The measure was opposed by some senators who worried about cost overruns and whether ratepayers or taxpayers might be saddled with those additional costs.
The measure goes to the House.
Full story http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=9859575&nav=9qrx
Associated Press - February 17, 2009 3:54 PM ET
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Senate has approved a bill to increase power rates for PacifiCorp customers to pay for removal of 4 hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River.
The legislation is needed to put into effect an agreement among farmers, fishers, tribes and others to improve salmon runs and settle a lengthy water struggle in the Klamath Basin.
Under the measure approved Tuesday up to $180 million would be collected from Pacificorp's 500,000 Oregon ratepayers to go toward dam removal.
The measure was opposed by some senators who worried about cost overruns and whether ratepayers or taxpayers might be saddled with those additional costs.
The measure goes to the House.
Full story http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=9859575&nav=9qrx