I just saw three salmon headed to idaho

[BigHornRam]

Buzz,

What do you think when Elk Cheese commonly refers to Clinton as "Klinton"? Dumbass, right? So what do you think most normal people think when you make comments like this:

"Tbone...shrub is the dude that should have been "pruned" from the whitehouse last November."

Sounds to me from this "dumbass" comment your a Kerry supporter. Question for you and Jose. Gore was one guy loopy enough to proceed with dam breaching (at least prior to 911, after that I doubt even he would have proceeded). If dam breaching is so important to the two of you, why did Jose vote for Bush over Gore, and why did you, Buzz not support Gore? Thanks in advance.

 

[BuzzH]

BHR,

Cheese spelling Clinton with a K is not that big of a deal to me. If thats the thing that you think makes cheese a dumbass...well...I tend to disagree.

Honestly BHR, I think Shrub is a pretty accurate description of a guy that sits on his dumb ass and reads "My pet goat" while jet #2 slams into the WTC.

No, I didnt support Gore, for obvious reasons...one of which is my vote didnt matter as 70% of Montana voted for Shrub.

 

[BigHornRam]

So Buzz,

Crusader for dam breaching. Why did you not support Gore? You mean you would rather vote for a guy that's not even running than to vote for someone with 30% support? How is that going to change the world. Shit on poor Al for supporting your pet project just because you think he might lose. Sad. If you really cared, you could have moved to Florida with IT, and Gunner and made a big difference. Apathy, apathy, apathy.

 

[MarvB]

Gunner- Don’t really know what they “average” in terms of their wholesale rates. Our contract with them was a 10yr and it expires in September (was $29.50/Mwh) and will not be renewed…gonna get us some of that Green stuff instead

Also, with all their built in escalators and their ability to rachet up/down every 6 months on some contracts- their rate base gets a little “hazy” at times. They also have those CRAC clauses in many of their contracts (Cost Recovery Adjustment Clause). which, according to BPA, is necessary because it has a 50% risk of missing its payment to the U.S. Treasury at any time.
The CRAC is one of three surcharges that are a part of many NW utilities’ power sales contracts with BPA.

Each downstream utility generally negotiates it own rates but they are based loosely on some of the following:

*A base price for wholesale electricity of around 2-3 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
*The Load Based CRAC (LB CRAC) covers BPA’s market purchases for power to serve its utility customers. The LB CRAC triggered at 46% in 2001 and can been adjusted every six months.
*The Financial Based CRAC (FB CRAC) triggers if BPA’s average accumulated net revenues fall below a certain level. The FB CRAC triggered at 11% in 2002.

The surplus we buy from them currently on the daily market is already at market based prices…they are just another marketer to us. But BPA want's to increment the same to all their supply side goig forward. Another thing that added another layer of cost was when they split off (mandated) their transmission side (TBL) from their energy side (PBL) and now have to “compete” to use their own wires…..it’s a unique industry to say the least eh’ T-Bone

 

[Tom]

Ok, so the sea lions are starving then, because there are not many adult salmon coming back. They have to be moved or killed then, the sea lions. At least some of them. Even the Indians can't do it in time though because of federal red tape procedures. They're a small percentage of the problem anyway, I've read that from the posts.

Buzz, so where are the numbers from for fixing the dams, the costs and the benefits, that you put up? That's the main issue, right? The costs and benefits of doing what the PATH report recommended. And who pays to get it done. That will be the solution, whenever they figure out that.

 

[JoseCuervo]

Tom,
The numbers all came in, the economics pointed to breaching as the best option. Time has passed, and I would guess educated people can either adjust the numbers or update the numbers as appropriate. Have power costs changed (as the idiot in Montana is always whining about)? Yes. So has the cost to dredge the channels to keep the barges floating. So has the benefit of the money spent in towns like Riggins, Orofino, Lewiston, etc...

We have many people who track inflation, and energy costs are a factor of it, so I am sure they can adjust the numbers accordingly, but the conclusions will likely be the same. Keep in mind, these dams don't generate a significant portion of BPA's energy. And BPA has other assets that aren't utilized efficiently (WPPS #2) that could make up shortages. People like BHR who aren't smart enough to undestand a dynamic environment will continue to try and drag wrenches into the works.

 

[Tom]

So, where's the report with the numbers that are old? I've only seen some from groups with a bias, not some joint group. Where are the numbers?

Look at this, it basically says the Army Corps of Engineers economic report is crap, didn't follow good economic principles.

http://www.salmonandeconomy.org/pdf/FR_EISReview.pdf

The governors and economist letter at their site says what principles to follow. Where's an economic report that follows good principles, that has an economist representing each side of the issue?

 

[BigHornRam]

Gunner,

I know I'm not very smart, but even I can figure out that when a politician says he opposes dam breaching and you vote for him anyway, you shouldn't whine when dam breaching does not proceed.

 

[BigHornRam]

Tom,

Montana is getting ready to remove the Milltown dam just upstream from Missoula. This is going to be one of those lose-lose projects that unfortunately must go forward. Leaving the dam in place will most likely have worse concequences than removing it, but either way, the consequences will be bad. Pay attention to projected costs verses actual costs on this one. Pay attention to the damage done down stream verses projected damage. Pay attention to this whole project as it will give you an idea what will happen if we proceed with breaching the Snake River dams. The Milltown project will be a good reference for making an informed opinion about dam breaching. It may also prove that dam breaching can work as projected. So watch this project and keep an open mind.