January 2006 Issue

Bonneville Plans to Separate the Science and Policy Functions of the Fish Passage Center

At a special Council meeting on January 26, Greg Delwiche, vice president for environment, fish and wildlife, presented Bonneville's proposal on how the Fish Passage Center's functions will be carried out during Fiscal Year 2006. The funding for the FPC was eliminated through congressional language attached to the FY 2006 Energy and Water Development Appropriation Conference Report. In his presentation, Delwiche noted Bonneville's goal to separate the independent science function from policymaking. Bonneville plans to assign the data management to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission; the science analysis would be done by Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory; and the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority would provide the broader policy coordination regarding spill and flow. See BPA press release.

Energy Northwest Proposes Coal Gasification Project

Thomas Krueger, project manager for Energy Northwest, briefed the Council on its plans to develop an integrated coal gasification combined-cycle project in Kalama, Washington. The $1 billion Pacific Mountain Energy Center would produce its own "synthesis gas" to fuel two 300-megawatt power plants. The emissions from the project are expected to be lower than traditional coal plants and on a par with a natural gas-fired power plant. Energy Northwest is a joint operating agency of 19 public utility districts and municipalities. See presentation (large file: 5mb PDF).

Economic Analysis Report Offers Guidelines for Economic Impact Studies

Independent Economic Analysis Board member Hans Radtke presented the findings (100k PDF) of the IEAB's review of a study by Don Reading on the value of Idaho's salmon fishery. In particular, the review looked at why the economic impact estimates in the Reading report were so different from the IEAB's report. Noting that the IEAB believes that Reading's modeling was not done correctly, Radke cited three factors contributing to the discrepancy:  the two studies used different economic measures; they cover different geographic areas; and the IEAB believes that Reading's economic impact estimates are too large.

Tom Karier Elected Council Chair; Joan Dukes Elected Vice Chair

Washington member Tom Karier was elected to serve as chair by his fellow Council members at their January meeting in Vancouver. Oregon member Joan Dukes will serve as vice chair. See press release.