More spill, less hydropower: The electric grid tradeoffs Washington can’t ignore

By: Kurt Miller

Outlets: Washington State Standard

Published: May 5, 2026

Words: 740

Last Updated: 2 months, 3 weeks ago

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Northwest electricity customers are again being told not to worry.

In litigation over Columbia Basin salmon, federal agencies began spilling more water last month to comply with a federal court order, sending more water over spillways rather than through power-generating turbines. According to court filings, the order will cost Bonneville Power Administration customers over $100 million a year and cut hydropower output by 1,000 megawatts in August and 500 in September.

That’s enough clean energy …

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