Hagedorn Supports Lewiston Port, Snake River Energy

Idaho State Senator and Lt. Governor candidate Marv Hagedorn is furious over the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to breach the Snake River. 130,000 ratepayers in the State of Idaho including businesses served by Port of Lewiston will suffer the most from the decision, but the impact will be felt throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Hagedorn stated, “the decision by non-elected judges in the federal courts is forcing the waste of one of our most valuable resources, water. In fact, the court decision is based on the premise of a proposed experiment, where we will spill $40 million dollars annually in clean hydropower to help the salmon population. Some adversaries of the system hope this experiment will lead to breaching the dams, but breaching in no way guarantees the return of water quality from 200 years ago. More importantly, removal of the dams will cause a reduction in oxygen levels, doing far more damage to all living organisms in the Snake River, while placing an undo financial burden on Idaho ratepayers and cutting off access to the Port of Lewiston. The decision is outrageous for all concerned.”

The Port of Lewiston is the most inland seaport on the West Coast, and serves as a transportation hub with access for barges to import and export northwest trade in the global market place.

“The Port of Lewiston is by far the most economical way for Idaho to connect to the global marketplace. If the Snake River dams are breached, not only will we lose clean, low-cost hydropower for 130,000 Idahoans, jobs will become scarce as trade is impacted and growth will stagnate. In short, it will not be urban Idaho that suffers, no it will be rural Idaho. Idahoans in Idaho Falls, Challis, Bonners Ferry, will be paying for this decision for years to come. Additionally, the impact to Idaho’s irrigation system must also be considered, our entire Idaho economy will be impacted”, said Senator Hagedorn.

Hydropower is clean, renewable energy. Dams and salmon can co-exist.

Hagedorn continued, “I stand with Idaho, the states of Montana, Washington, Oregon, the Kootenai Tribe, Idaho Consumer Owned Utilities, as well as the Ag and Transportation industries in opposing this decision. As Idaho’s next Lt. Governor, I will fight this decision arm-in-arm with Idaho.”

Hagedorn is known for his tireless work for Idaho’s veterans, and is a founding member of the Wyakin Warrior Foundation. He is a retired Navy veteran of 20 years, former business owner, and served a combined 12 years in the Idaho House and Senate. He is noted for his knowledge on Idaho’s lands, is a staunch advocate for the Second Amendment, and has long-term personal experience in economic development.