The calls to do away with the Electron Hydro dam seem premature and don't consider the full impact of dam removal. In the aftermath of the industrial accident, efforts should be focused on repairing the damage rather than the total elimination of the energy source.
The hydroelectric facility provides electricity for about 20,000 homes. The project also conserves nearly 2200 acres of land and 10 miles of river shoreline. It will be unwise to remove a power source that uses renewable energy. Especially at a time when clean hydropower is more needed than ever.
Calls for removing the dam also defeat the purpose of the current construction work. The current upgrades will install a screen at the intake and other fish-friendly improvements to the Dam.
“The project will continue when the issues are satisfied. Electron is committed to producing clean energy and restoring Puyallup River fisheries,” the company statement says. Pierce County should ensure that Tollhouse stays true to its commitment.
There are also legal hurdles in the removal of the dam altogether. According to an email response by a company spokesperson, the current work is permitted. The project received all the necessary permits back in August 2018. So Electron Hydro and Tollhouse Energy are within their rights to rebuild the dam. The stop-work orders and calls to eliminate the dam will only cause delays to the project that benefits fish and the local population alike.
For now, necessary measures to prevent such accidents in the future and rapid cleaning up of the river should be prioritized. Electron Hydro is carrying out necessary tasks to remove any turf material still in the river. The State Department of Ecology will monitor the progress.
The logical way forward is to repair the damage caused by the unfortunate accident effectively. Electron Hydro should be more transparent with any future work on the project.
However, stopping the construction work and removing the dam altogether is counterproductive to the residents. It is a stable energy source, and any action to remove it will pose legal hurdles. Pierce County must move forward rationally and collaborate with other agencies to ensure the successful completion of the project. It's the only outcome beneficial to the ecosystem.
