Liz Writes Life
Oct. 6, 2021
Wildfire prevention
California Senator Brian Dahle and his wife, California
Assemblywoman, Megan Dahle, sent out a press release celebrating support for
wildfire prevention. After pushing negotiations in this year’s wildfire
prevention funding, they identified a list of shovel-ready projects to protect
communities in their district and received $30 million in grant funding. This
is a big win out of Governor Gavin Newsom’s recently announced allocation of
$138 million for the entire state.
“We are excited to announce the data we gathered on unfunded
projects was prioritized in the governor’s funding and thankful for his trust
in our local Fire Safe Councils’ abilities to do this critical work,” said the
senator and assemblywoman.
The projects will give
communities resources necessary to prioritize and establish much-needed
firebreaks. The Dahles stressed that over six million acres have been destroyed
by wildfire in the past two years and the state is late in funding the
much-needed clearing of unnatural undergrowth and using controlled burns. Our
legislators also stressed the need to focus on mobilizing the timber industry,
reducing environmental regulation and costly red tape that hold up projects –
and to commit substantial, ongoing funds to wildfire prevention.
Klamath dams
The deadline to submit public comments to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission regarding its proposal to transfer the hydroelectric license
of the Klamath dams to the non-profit entity Klamath River Renewal Corp. closed
the end of August.
CA. Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa sent out a press release
explaining why he submitted opposition. I decided to use the congressman’s
response, because it puts in a nutshell the comments made by Siskiyou County,
Siskiyou Water Users Assoc. and many individuals that oppose the license
transfer and ultimate destruction of the Klamath dams by the KRRC.
“Clear evidence rebukes the idea that salmon would have
naturally traveled above the current site of Copco 1. But, undeterred by facts,
zealous environmentalists continue their dogmatic pursuit of dam removal even
if it sends millions of cubic yards of toxic sediment and silt downstream,
forces school closures, wrecks the habitat of other threatened and endangered
species, reduces our ability to manage water in the Klamath watershed and
eliminates a key source of water for wildfire air attack craft with any
liability placed firmly on the backs of California and Oregon Taxpayers. The
dam removal plan will create a man-made natural disaster that will cost billions
to clean up,” said LaMalfa.
Boy do I agree.
Then, if we add the destructive wildfires and declining water
levels at reservoirs throughout the state into the comments, it makes one
wonder at the sanity-level of anyone wanting to destroy any reservoirs. The
current drought shows the desperate need for more water storage – in reservoirs
– not less.
With the threat of rolling blackouts compounding the crisis
of water shortage, it has been reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom is
looking at constructing five “temporary” gas-fueled plants. The California
Energy Commission approved licenses for the emergency gas generators (for up to
five years) with the ability to generate 30 megawatts of energy from each
generator. Hum, 30 megawatts times five generators is 150 megawatts. Keep that
number in mind.
In researching the Klamath dams hydropower ability, I found
that 151 megawatts of energy is generated and 70,000 customers receive power. The
same amount the “temporary” gas-fueled plants will produce!
Once again, why in the world would anyone want to decrease
our current ability to produce power and store water from a project that is
already in place? I just don’t get it! Thank you to everyone that objected to
FERC’s license transfer of the Klamath dams and provided facts to FERC
regarding dam removal.
Update on FERC situation
I have read FERC’s Sept. 23, 2021
“Order Addressing Arguments Raised on Rehearing” by Siskiyou County that tried
to appeal FERC’s June 2021 Transfer Order that allows the potential license
transfer of the Klamath dams to the non-profit entity Klamath River Renewal
Corp. In this mix of procedures -- that I admit are complicated to me -- the
California legislature decided (negated) its need to be involved. This included
the state ignoring its mandate to do the environmental assessments accomplished
through California Environmental Quality Act, which is state law. For a state
that is so environmentally aware, I find this shocking because demolishing the
Klamath dams will be a huge detriment to the environment.
So, this puts the environmental
assessments regarding the removal of the Klamath dams directly on the federal
National Environmental Policy Act, which must be done by FERC.
Once again, I called our Siskiyou
County Supervisor, Ray Haupt, for clarification.
Ray said that FERC refuses to hear
the county’s arguments. As a result, the county has two choices: One is to
fight the current license transfer order that did not have a NEPA, but has no
case law to support the county. The second is to wait until NEPA is completed
and then challenge -- if it is insufficient.
“We must be prudent in the challenges
we make,” Ray said. “It is the public’s money, not my money.”
As most folks know, lawsuits cost
lots of money and I agree the county must be careful to use the best process
that could provide a win in court.
Typically, NEPA takes about two years
of environmental studies and several public comment periods to complete.
May peace and calm be with you this week. Smile – just cuz it
makes you feel better!
Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in
newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County. Columns from the past
can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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