YREKA, Calif. - A decade of negotiations between more than 40 parties for water rights, river health and salmon survival expires at the end of December if it isn't approved by Congress. And Congress may be the biggest challenge yet for the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, which covers water use in northern California and southern Oregon.

At last week's White House Tribal Nations Conference, Kathy Hill – a member of the Klamath Tribal Council who was on the negotiating team for the agreement – said she heard mixed views about the future of the agreement.

"[U.S. Interior Secretary] Sally Jewell was optimistic," said Hill. "But then another person, not with the administration, told me, 'You know, nothing's going to get through this House this year.' And that's the mood, I think maybe, in Washington, D.C."

At the conference, President Obama said he's committed to working with tribal nations to protect natural resources and honor their heritage. But Hill wonders if members of Congress unfamiliar with the years of struggle between water users in this area understand the importance of the agreement.

The Senate bill (SB 133) is stalled, and a companion House bill has yet to be introduced by Oregon Congressman Greg Walden, although he has said it's a priority.

Brian Johnson, California and Klamath director for Trout Unlimited, made the point that, if nothing else, the people representing these districts won't want to see a repeat of the "water wars" of past decades.

"We know that all four of the senators in California and Oregon support the legislation. And so, we're just hoping that they can deliver on that and get it done on this short timeline," said Johnson.

The agreement calls for removal of four older dams in the region. If it expires, however, PacifiCorp could upgrade and re-license the dams instead, passing the costs on to ratepayers in a half-dozen states.

Greg Addington, executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association, explained that for irrigators, dam removal was a major compromise.

"We shook hands on that deal and we're still committed to that outcome, if the agreement goes forward," Addington said. "We don't want to go back and do this all over again; we don't even know if we can do it all over again. We've really tried to convey that sense of urgency to Congress. Hopefully, they hear us."


get more stories like this via email

Federal tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act are fueling big growth in Tennessee's battery supply chain.

The Volunteer State has become a major hub in battery production with 11 manufactures in the state. For example, in Clarksville, LG Chem is investing $1.7 billion in a facility to produce cathode materials for electric-vehicle batteries.

Xan Fishman, energy program senior managing director for the nonprofit think tank Bipartisan Policy Center, said clean energy tax credits are driving investments in Tennessee's battery industry.

"We've really seen a resurgence in battery manufacturing in the U.S., and in Tennessee in particular, with factories coming online," Fishman pointed out. "It's a sector that has been dominated by China."

The Volunteer State has attracted more than $5 billion in clean energy investments and created 6,700 jobs since 2022. Major developments include the McKellar Solar Farm in Madison County, which helps power Meta's Gallatin data center and the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant near Soddy-Daisy.

Fishman warned the "One Big Beautiful Bill" would gut key federal tax credits supporting the battery supply chain from EV incentives to energy storage and critical mineral processing. He noted electricity and energy needs are on the rise and the tax credits ensure the energy supply can keep up.

"If we don't keep up with that growing demand, the result is going to be that electricity prices go up," Fishman cautioned. "Preserving these tax credits is going to be really important for energy affordability and energy reliability, because we know we all need energy for our lives."

Fishman argued repealing clean energy tax credits could cost U.S. jobs and stop new manufacturing. He added China already controls more than 90% of critical minerals and could raise prices any time. He hopes Tennesseans will work with Congress to protect clean energy tax credits, jobs and U.S. battery manufacturing.

Minnesota's high-profile community solar program will stick around after state lawmakers opted not to approve a sunset provision.

Assistance groups said it's good news for renters and low-income households seeking lower energy bills. In the recent legislative session, a group of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle proposed phasing out the program, arguing it did not make economic sense with more utility-scale solar projects coming on board. But organizations working with under-resourced populations strongly pushed to keep it in place.

Keiko Miller, community solar program director for the advocacy group Minneapolis Climate Action, said they don't have to worry about this option becoming out of reach again.

"Community solar flips it all on its head and allows all people to participate evenly and benefit from renewable energy," Miller explained.

Minnesota's program started in 2013 and is viewed as a national model. Officials said it caters to people who are not in a position to install solar panels on their roof. Instead, they can subscribe to a community solar garden and still get the benefits on their electric bill. Reforms were adopted in 2023 to address underlying issues that had surfaced.

Program supporters said the changes still need time to prove their effectiveness. Miller noted her group does outreach with many renters and low- to moderate-income households, making them aware of the option. She pointed to a community solar garden sitting on the roof of Minneapolis' North High School as a symbol of boosting accessibility to neighborhood residents feeling the energy burden.

"The vast majority of our subscribers are from North Minneapolis," Miller observed. "On average, they're receiving $100 to $300 of reduced energy bills a year."

Minnesota has a mandate for utilities to produce 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. Lawmakers and activists from both sides of the debate mentioned their vision for the program was crucial in helping the state meet the benchmark. The program's survival also comes as Republicans in Congress move to repeal clean energy incentives.


get more stories like this via email

Workers and families in Indiana could feel the impact of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" moving through the U.S. Senate. The legislation would roll back clean-energy tax credits and investments passed in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Jim Clarida, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in northwest Indiana, said those investments have helped create jobs and attract nearly $8 billion in private energy development to the state.

"Since the IRA was passed," he said, "$7.8 billion in private clean-energy investments have flown into my home state here in Indiana, fueling the construction and manufacturing of EV battery plants, expanding solar and wind developments."

Clarida said Indiana has about two gigabytes of utility-scale solar projects under its belt and has another gigawatt in the pipeline.

Supporters of the big budget bill have argued that the changes are necessary to cut federal spending and reduce the national deficit by eliminating costly subsidies, although it also includes an extension of tax cuts that benefit mostly wealthy Americans.

U.S. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., warned that the bill could drive up household electricity costs by hundreds of dollars and eliminate clean-energy job growth across the Midwest.

"This could create a recession if we lose them all," he said. "And so first, our union members - not just electricians, but everyone - should know that jobs are at stake in their union, either for themselves or their brothers and sisters who are in the union."

Indiana ranks among the top 10 states for clean-energy job growth since the Inflation Reduction Act passed. Schumer urged Hoosiers to weigh in on what he calls "critical energy investments" as the Senate debates the bill.


get more stories like this via email