U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced that the Department of Energy, in collaboration with several federal agencies, has officially withdrawn from the Columbia River System Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This decision aligns with President Trump's directive to halt policies from the previous administration concerning the Columbia River basin.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated, "The Pacific Northwest deserves energy security, not energy scarcity. Dams in the Columbia River Basin have provided affordable and reliable electricity to millions of American families and businesses for decades." He emphasized that under President Trump's leadership, taxpayer funds would not be used to dismantle critical infrastructure or support policies that could increase energy costs.
On June 10, 2025, President Trump signed a memorandum titled "Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Generate Power for the Columbia River Basin," which revoked a previous memorandum aimed at restoring fish populations in the area. The Biden-era MOU had required significant federal spending and commitments to replace services provided by the Lower Snake River Dams, including considerations for breaching them.
The withdrawal aims to prevent potential negative impacts on regional agriculture and power supply. Breaching the dams was projected to double power shortage risks and significantly raise electricity rates. Additionally, it could have affected water supply for farmers and increased transportation costs due to changes in shipping channels.
The four dams on the Lower Snake River are crucial for providing over 3,000 megawatts of hydroelectric capacity—enough to power 2.5 million homes. The current administration remains focused on maintaining this infrastructure while ensuring lower energy costs and supporting local agriculture through secure water supplies.
