Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary | https://www.facebook.com/photo.php
Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum expressed support for President Donald J. Trump's decision to revoke a memorandum from the Biden administration. The original memorandum, titled “Restoring Healthy and Abundant Salmon, Steelhead, and Other Native Fish Populations in the Columbia River Basin,” aimed at conservation efforts that posed potential impacts on hydroelectric power generation.
Secretary Burgum stated, “This administration will not stand by while American energy is threatened. We are fiercely committed to keeping energy affordable, reliable, and made in America." He emphasized the importance of President Trump's action in revoking a policy that endangered four key hydroelectric dams on the Snake River.
The Columbia River Basin is a significant hydropower region in the United States, accounting for nearly 44 percent of national hydropower production with over 29 gigawatts of generating capacity. The Biden-era policy risked removing more than 3,000 megawatts of secure hydroelectric power from this area—enough to supply electricity to 2.5 million homes.
Under President Trump’s leadership, Secretary Burgum and the Department of the Interior aim to maintain stable and cost-effective hydropower solutions. Hydropower has been a longstanding energy source for over a century in America and currently provides reliable electricity to more than 30 million households. Additionally, hydropower facilities offer immediate power dispatch capabilities essential for balancing national grids and serving as backup during outages or disruptions.
