“While wrapped in the veneer of privatization, the president’s budget proposals would have the ironic effect of harming private enterprise in the Northwest by raising costs,” Scott Corwin writes.
“The only vision here is a fast buck for buddies at Mar-a-Lago and even some members of the richest Cabinet in history who have been, er, casual about separating their private interests from public duty,” argues Seattle Times columnist Jon Talton.
“By one authoritative estimate, any such sale would drive up the cost of transmission by 26%-44%.”
“Such a sale would be credit negative for each entity because it would reduce transmission-related revenue, a stable revenue source and weaken federal government support, key considerations that support their respective ratings,” Moody’s says.
“Oregonians raised hell last year when Trump tried to raise power bills for Pacific Northwesterners by selling off Bonneville Power, and yet his administration is back at it again. Our investment shouldn’t be put up for sale to free up money for runaway military spending or tax cuts for billionaires,” Senator Wyden said.
“Selling off BPA’s transmission system and abandoning cost-based rates would raise electricity rates and throw sand in the gears of the Northwest economy,” Senator Cantwell says.
Protect Northwest Power is a new campaign by the Northwest Progressive Institute to ensure that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) — one of our region’s greatest and most important assets — remains publicly owned and operated.
