The power company that operates four dams on the Klamath River says removing them would pollute the environment.
PacifiCorp says the hydroelectric dams provide a clean and cheap source of energy. The company says removing them would drive up costs and force the use of coal-fired power plants, which are known to pollute the air.
Tribes in northern California and southern Oregon reject the argument. They say the dams have already destroyed the environment, including salmon runs the tribes depend on.
The Bush administration has ordered PacifiCorp to install fish ladders and other devices to aid salmon. The company says the equipment will cost $300 million, about three times the cost of removing the dams altogether.
Get the Story:Climate Change Adds Twist to Debate Over Dams (The New York Times 4/23)
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PacifiCorp - http://www.pacificorp.com Related Stories:
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