Chopp tells Tri-Cities leaders he supports hydropower as renewable; then reassures the environmental lobby he doesn't mean it

July 28, 2009

OLYMPIA…State Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland, announced he has some heartburn over House Speaker Frank Chopp’s recent visit to Pasco to talk about energy policy.  

“Chopp told Tri-Cities leaders exactly what he knew they wanted to hear: that Washington’s abundant, low-cost hydropower should be considered renewable and counted under Initiative 937,” Delvin said. “But when the environmental lobby came unglued over his remarks, Chopp reassured them that he has no intention of changing his long-time stand against declaring hydropower renewable. Well, Mr. Speaker, which is it?” 

Passed in 2006, Initiative 937 mandates that large utilities obtain 15 percent of their electricity through “renewable” resources, yet did not consider hydropower renewable. As a result, local utilities must sell their low-cost hydropower to other states that do recognize it as renewable energy. 

“Chopp told Tri-Cities leaders, ‘It (hydropower) clearly is renewable and why it isn’t classified as such is absurd.’ That sounds pretty clear to me,” Delvin said. “I agree wholeheartedly. Hydropower is a cheap, clean, carbon-neutral and renewable fuel source. Why should we sell it to California and other states smart enough to know that – while we buy expensive and unreliable wind power?  

“Yet, just days after his visit to Pasco was reported in the Tri-City Herald, environmental lobbyist Clifford Traisman assured his e-mail list, “Frank told me the following good news: As during last session, he has no interest in repealing or decimating I-937…He refutes the comments attributed to him in this story (including the reference to Nuclear Power.)"  

“One thing’s for sure,” Delvin said. “He’s blowing smoke at somebody…but is it the citizens of the Tri-Cities or environmentalists? I bet I can guess!” 

- 30 -

Sen. Delvin represents the 8th Legislative District, which includes
Richland, Kennewick, Benton City, and Prosser.

Additional contact: Pat Albright at (360) 786-7519 or albright.pat@leg.wa.gov