Plan definitely not ‘balanced”

When I hear proponents of a project argue that “balance” as a justification for his project, I know instinctively they are straining credulity!

Mr Klein’s, Sunday Viewpoints commentary, “Sunset Falls dam: Balance is possible,” claims he can have it both ways. SnoPUD claims it can build a dam on one of the few Wild and Scenic rivers left in America, the Skykomish, still hosting relatively, healthy salmon runs, and claim it is environmentally positive? Yet the power produced would be superfluous to the region’s needs, at the wrong time of year, only to be sold to California! That’s right, spend over $150 million of ratepayers’ dollars for a boondoggle, enriching contractors and Mr Klein himself, and destroy one of the last remaining salmon streams and most spectacular, scenic and recreational assets!

You call that “Balanced?” I don’t!

The “feasibility” Mr, Klein speaks of, is questioned by WDFW themselves in response to the PUD’s study plans, and by the Tulalip and Snoqualmie tribes in their comment letters. They question the feasibility of the dam location, and its likely impacts. Why has SnoPUD rejected the requests of WDFW and tribes to study these problems if their plan is so “balanced?”

If the plan is so “balanced,” what about the toxics released by the hole blasted in the mountain, the landslides already a problem there, the dangerous traffic jams that will threaten cross-state commerce and local businesses?

Please ask SnoPUD, how it can possibly claim this is a balanced plan for the ratepayers?

Janet Way

Shoreline

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