69 



the general manager of the Raft River Rural Electric Cooperative 

 and the president of the Idaho's Co-op's Council. 



Bud Tracy projects that the current and proposed fish and wild- 

 life costs could add $500 million to BPA costs. That means that 

 $132 of an average person's $1,000 power bill are fish recovery 

 costs. 



For irrigators who have power bills of $100,000 or more, they 

 will be paying $13,200, up from the $9,300 that they paid last year. 



I think that we all would agree that agriculture is a risky busi- 

 ness and profit margins are often small. Adding $3,200 to a farm- 

 er's cost without any assurance that these costs will benefit salmon 

 is not the right policy. Finally, I would like to suggest to this com- 

 mittee that we must become more creative in our approach to help- 

 ing the salmon. Technological innovation has been a time-tested 

 method that Americans have used to help us solve our problems. 



We should do so here. A number of hydropower engineers across 

 the country are convinced that the time is ripe for breakthroughs 

 in turbine design that can produce a turbine more friendly to fish 

 that inadvertently pass through them, new ideas for surface collec- 

 tion, and bypass for light and sound guidance, and improve trans- 

 portation within our region. 



Technological innovation can be our ally in achieving these twin 

 objectives, which at times seem so incompatible. I would urge this 

 committee to pursue this course with all due speed, and offer my 

 commitment to work with you toward this objective. 



PREPARED STATEMENT 



I would also note that the third panel coming up today is Mr. 

 DeWitt Moss, from Jerome, ID, who is truly one of the very knowl- 

 edgeable individuals with regard to water issues and is both prag- 

 matic and a practitioner on good sound thoughts concerning this. 



Mr. Chairman, I would ask that my full statement be made part 

 of the record. 



Senator Hatfield. It will be made part of the entire record. 



[The statement follows:] 



Prepared Statement of Senator Dirk Kempthorne 



Mr. Chairman, thank you for your invitation to participate in this hearing on the 

 salmon recovery efforts, and its cost to the Pacific Northwest, and Bonneville Power 

 Administration in particular. You and I share a common commitment to restoring 

 endangered salmon stocks. Historically, they have been an important source of food 

 and recreational opportunity. Today, as yesterday, they are also part of our unique 

 identity. 



I believe we also share a common commitment to recovery measures that will ac- 

 tually help the salmon and still take into account the economic and other needs of 

 people in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Being able to assure an adequate, consist- 

 ently reliable, and affordable energy supply to Pacific Northwest households, agri- 

 culture, and industry is part of that equation. 



The witnesses testifying today are especially equipped to address the energy is- 

 sues underlying the salmon recovery debate. I do not intend to cover ground that 

 can be better addressed by those on the front line of our regions energy concerns. 

 I would, however, like to make several points. 



First, the market situation for hydropower is radically different today than ten, 

 or even five, years ago. It is a highly competitive market, and Bonneville Power 

 (BPA) must be able to compete in that market if it is to remain a viable entity and 

 meet its repayment obligations to the federal government. Already, I am personally 

 aware of several instances where present BPA customers are seeking alternative 

 sources of electricity to replace and/or supplement their contracts with BPA. As a 



