Probably everyone who lives in the Inland Northwest would agree that the Spokane River and Lake Coeur d’Alene are among the priceless gems that help make this a great place to live. These waters have been a source of beauty and life for thousands of years. They provide recreational opportunities as well as habitat for fish and wildlife and have supported the growth and vitality of our region. And for more than 100 years, the hydroelectric plants along the Spokane River have provided renewable energy for the people who live here.

Avista operates the Spokane River hydro system under a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and our license expires this August. For almost five years, we, along with hundreds of stakeholders, have been engaged in an effort to understand the effects of the hydro operations on the river and lake, and to plan ways to address these impacts in the future through a new license.

That effort included several hundred meetings on technical issues. We had hoped to reach a comprehensive agreement on all these issues, but we did not. However, the applications we ultimately submitted to FERC in 2005 reflected a great deal of the agreement that had been reached. We believe our proposals honored a process that involved agency, governmental and tribal staff, along with many citizen volunteers who devoted their time and efforts.

Our proposal includes significant new measures supporting regional natural resources such as: improving public access to the water, increasing fishing opportunities, restoring and protecting nearby wetlands, increasing flows in the Spokane River to support water quality, fish, recreation and aesthetics, and much more.

Recently, FERC issued a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), an important step in its decision-making on a new license. To a significant degree, FERC’s analysis and proposal support the collaborative effort embodied in our applications. While we do not agree with all of FERC’s analysis, we are heartened to see its support for many of the measures developed among stakeholders in our community.

Unfortunately, a few people are conveying false impressions about the relicensing process and our proposals. To be clear:

“Avista proposed and supports increased flows in the Spokane River, based on fishery and water quality evaluations.

“Avista proposed and supports providing aesthetic flows in the north channel of the river through downtown Spokane.

“Avista has proposed to improve dissolved oxygen levels in the Spokane River below Long Lake Dam.

FERC recommends accepting these proposals and many more.

Avista’s hydropower provides many benefits to our customers and community. Hydro generation helps keep our electric rates among the lowest in the nation. These plants provide renewable power and create no pollution. Outside power purchases can be costly and may come from less environmentally friendly sources.

Costs associated with a new license will impact customer rates. But those costs, and our profits, are strictly controlled by state utility commissions.

We take our stewardship responsibility seriously. To us, that means finding reasonable ways to address concerns that relate directly to hydro operations. It also means ensuring that our operations support a variety of purposes, including water quality, recreation and power production, among others. And it means providing this range of benefits at a cost that is fair to our customers.

Today many positive efforts are under way related to Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River. Relicensing is an important part of the larger effort to restore and protect these waters. Together, we have a great opportunity to support both the economic vitality and environmental quality that the community values.