Don Brunell - Hydropower is key to Washington’s future

Ever since the generators at the Grand Coulee dam started spinning in 1942, low-cost hydropower has been the key to our economic strength and way of life.

During World War II, its abundance enriched uranium at Hanford produced aluminum for Boeing’s bombers, built Navy vessels at Kaiser’s shipyard in Vancouver and provided plenty of affordable heat and light for our homes, schools and hospitals.

That low-cost water power comes from the Columbia-Snake River System. While dams present a challenge to salmon runs — many of which have been successfully addressed — hydropower is a clean, affordable,...