California Governor Gavin Newsom has written to urge Berkshire Hathaway, parent company of project owner PacifiCorp, to stick to an agreement to remove four aging Klamath River hydroelectric dams along the California-Oregon border in the US.
Governor Newsom sent a letter on July 29th to Warren Buffett and leaders at Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) urging them to keep to the agreement, after suggestions that PacifiCorp may pursue the process of relicensing the dams rather than remove them.
In response to Governor Newsom’s letter, the Karuk Tribe, Yurok Tribe, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations and conservation groups American Rivers, California Trout, Klamath Riverkeeper, Trout Unlimited, Save California Salmon and Sustainable Northwest have issued the following statement of support:
“With every year that passes, Klamath River salmon edge closer to extinction. While we are gratified that PacifiCorp remains willing to talk, we can’t afford any more delays in this process. It’s time for Warren Buffett’s PacifiCorp to do the right thing and allow this dam removal agreement to move forward.
“It’s not only the right thing to do, it’s in the financial interests of PacifiCorp’s ratepayers and Berkshire Hathaway’s shareholders. The agreement offers PacifiCorp unprecedented liability protections and $250 million in public funding. Walking away from the agreement will put PacifiCorp ratepayers on the hook for all the risks and liabilities associated with fish kills, toxic algae blooms, lawsuits, and violations of Tribal rights. We urge Warren Buffet and PacifiCorp to end the delays and move the dam removal process forward immediately.”
