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U.S. Energy Secretary Touts Northwest Dams, Lower Electricity Prices by Matthew Weaver Capital Press, December 9, 2025

Federal Hydropower is "... not flooding onto
the grid when you don't need the electricity."
-- U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright

Dams in the Pacific Northwest are "hydropower assets" resulting in electricity prices well below the national average, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said last week.

Wright spoke while touring Ice Harbor Dam Dec. 4.

"You have an existing asset that can deliver 600 megawatts -- just that one dam behind us, and it's one of four that's already built," Wright said, calling it "high-value electricity." "It can deliver it when you need it, but it's not flooding onto the grid when you don't need the electricity." Wright said he constantly hears that people want more electrons on the grid.

"You add more electrons in the grid right now, it doesn't do anything, it just makes something else turn down," he said. "The critical issue for an electric grid is that it can supply power, keep the lights on and keep people alive at peak demand."

Hydropower that can be ramped up to a high level at the most valuable times is critical to enable business and houses to have "reliable, affordable power," Wright said.

Electricity prices vs. gasoline prices

"Washington State I think has done most everything wrong in gasoline, it has gasoline prices almost as high as Hawaii and California," Wright said, noting that Washington gasoline prices are third-highest in the nation.

That's not the case with electricity, he said.

"The hydropower assets in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest are why you've got well below national average electricity prices here," he said. "The Trump administration wants to do everything we can to keep it that way. We want the thriving economy in Washington State, and affordable electricity prices. Everywhere and always."

Wind and solar

Batteries are key to increasing the value of wind and solar, Wright said.

"Today, we have less than 10 minutes of storage from batteries across the country," Wright said. "In fact, 96% of all the energy storage we have in the United States is from dams. It's from water. We're not ending wind and solar -- just, 33 years of subsidies, shouldn't that be enough?"

Wright expects developers to continue to pursue solar, but feels they should compete "on a level playing field."

All states using renewable portfolio standards average 30% higher electricity prices than states that don't have such portfolio standards, Wright said.

"Our vote is for lower electricity prices, not higher electricity prices," he said. "But if they find a way in the marketplace to compete and deliver reliable, affordable electricity -- fantastic, I'm all for it."

Wright said his preference is for "as little subsidies as possible." The One Big Beautiful Bill includes "eight years of subsidies to get the nuclear industry going again and to launch next-generation geothermal," he said.

It also includes the same subsidies for wind and solar, but with a schedule to end them.

"We see rushed permitting over the objections of local landowners, fishermen or wildlife with wind power," he said.

Trump is trying to correct with a better balance, he said.

"You can't build a wind power plant no matter what, that's gone," he said. "We're trying to have a fair, reasonable, open permitting process for all energy sources."

Common sense over 'climate craziness'

Various environmental and recreation groups in October sought "emergency measures" to protect endangered salmon and steelhead by increasing spill at the eight Columbia and Snake river dams, among other actions.

Wright said he would not speak about the ongoing litigation.

The Trump administration's "overwhelming goal" is to lower energy prices and "make life better for all Americans across the country," he said.

"So much of the environmental agenda has been hijacked by climate craziness," he said. "People that don't understand climate change and the energy system have hijacked all of the energy and resources away from real environmental issues and have gone in an unproductive direction."

The Trump administration is trying to bring "common sense" back, with better environmental outcomes, better price affordability and job opportunities.

"As you look at the state of gasoline prices today, I think you can see President Trump's agenda's working," Wright said.

Endangered salmon plans

Wright was asked if the Trump administration had plans to restore salmon. Wright said he couldn't speak to the specifics.

"The environment, wilderness, wildlife and all that are central to our agenda, absolutely," he said.

The National Marine Fisheries Service on Dec. 9 published its finding that Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon and Northern California Coastal chinook salmon do not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Related Pages:
Power Bills Could Jump 17% Under Proposal to Help Salmon at WA Dams, Feds Say by Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald, 12/16/25
Dam Advocates Respond to Groups' Bid to Lift Salmon Litigation Pause by Matthew Weaver, Capital Press, 9/13/25