Friend's of the River Press Release: PacifiCorp Ratepayers Strongly Support Klamath Dam Removal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:                                               August 23, 2006
Patrick Shannon, Friends of the River
503-358-8239

PACIFICORP RATEPAYERS STRONGLY SUPPORT KLAMATH DAM REMOVAL

By a two to one margin, a new poll shows ratepayers favor removing controversial dams

    Portland, OR - Following a Portland protest by Klamath Basin Tribes urging PacifiCorp to remove controversial dams on the Klamath River, an independent poll shows that PacifiCorp ratepayers also favor removing the dams – and they are willing to support modest rate increases in order to fund environmental restoration. The Tribes’ protest received national press attention and resulted in a statement from PacifiCorp indicating that they were open to dam removal “as long as our customers are not harmed.”

    "Governor Kulongoski of Oregon and the Schwarzenegger Administration in California support dam removal, the Pacific Coast Fishing industry supports dam removal, the Klamath tribes that depend on the river support dam removal, environmental organizations support removal, and now it’s clear that PacifiCorp ratepayers support dam removal as well" said Kelly Catlett, of Friends of the River, a nonprofit organization which commissioned the poll.

    The poll, which was conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin and Associates, surveyed the opinions of 400 likely voters. The poll demonstrated that 44% of Oregon voters support dam removal and 45% of the respondents were willing to pay as much as $5 more per month on their electric bill to fund dam removal. When the amount was lowered to 50 cents per month, 66% supported paying the additional amount.

In fact, PacifiCorp ratepayers, who make up roughly one third of the Oregon electorate, support the idea of removing PacifiCorp’s dams on the Klamath even more strongly than the overall electorate, with 52% in favor of dam removal.

"Ultimately, PacifiCorp ratepayers, like all Oregon residents, are committed to protecting a high quality of life, and that means taking care of our natural heritage. I’m not surprised in the least that they’re willing to shoulder some of the fiscal cost," said Patrick Shannon, Oregon campaign coordinator. “Time and time again, ratepayers have expressed their commitment to the well being of our community and to the health of our environment.”

The four dams targeted for removal are located along the California-Oregon border and block access to over 350 miles of historic spawning habitat. In addition, the dams do not provide flood control or irrigation diversions and they produce very little power.

    Friends of the River, with staff in Oregon and California, is based in Sacramento and was founded in 1973, to advocate for river conservation and restoration. For a memo on the poll, please email pwshannon [at] yahoo.com.