By CHERYL HUKILL

Guest writer

Herald and News Commentary

September 19, 2010

      If the dams are removed, there goes our electricity! I have heard this on more than one occasion.

   There is a misconception that the power generated from the John C. Boyle Dam is the only electricity source for the homes in Klamath County.

   The power grid that carries our power comes from numerous sources.

   It is like a big pot where the sources are stirred together and then power is distributed to the homes and businesses of Klamath County.

   Some of the sources are the cogeneration plant in Klamath Falls, Bonneville Power Administration, John C. Boyle dam and private power sources.  

   If the biomass plant is built, it will also be a contributor to the power grid.

   All of these power sources also provide power to customers in California, Washington, Idaho and more states.

   You cannot separate the sources of power once it hits the grid. PacifiCorp is mandated to replace the lost power. Dam removal will not affect your power availability. PacifiCorp is building thousands of new megawatts of clean, renewable power.

   PacifiCorp also is mandated by the Oregon Public Utility Commission to supply the cheapest source of power possible to us, the customers.

   When the federal government would not allow PacifiCorp to relicense the dams, and knowing that fish ladders would be at a very high cost, dam removal became the choice that would be the least expensive for the customer.

   This was not PacifiCorp’s first choice, nor mine. Senate Bill 76 capped for 10 years what could be charged to the customer for dam removal.

   It is a very small amount on your bill and, by the way, you have been paying since the first of the year. Three of the four dams are in California. These dams do not provide irrigation water to farms and ranches.

   The Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement process began because the federal government shut off irrigation water to the Klamath Reclamation Project in 2001.

   Tired of the federal government interfering with our way of life, a group of people from many diverse backgrounds sat down to find a way that local control would be possible.

   Here is our chance to do what everyone is asking for: Take away the sole decision making power from the federal government and give it back to the people. We do not want another 2001.

   Collectively, our farmers and ranchers provide 4,500 jobs and $300 million to our local economy before even one dollar is spent.

   Many of the crops that are produced here in the Basin go to, for example, Lays potato chips, Colgate toothpaste, Bigelow mint tea, Tulelake horseradish, Wrigley’s gum, and other products we purchase.

   The KBRA equals jobs, sustainable water, good economy and a future for our young people.  

   With a strong agricultural community, we will have strong schools, businesses coming to the Basin and good medical care.

   A ballot measure in November is asking if Klamath County should discontinue being a part of the decision-making process for the KBRA. By voting no on Measure No.18-80, we will keep Klamath County a part of the decision-making process that will affect our community.