03.10.16

Cantwell Urges Prime Minister to Start Talks with U.S. on Modernization of Columbia River Treaty as Part of Expanded Clean Energy Cooperation

Senator cites opportunity to demonstrate global leadership & cooperation on climate change and energy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the first day of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s historic visit to the United States, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sent a letter to the Prime Minister urging modernization of the Columbia River Treaty as an opportunity to demonstrate global leadership & cooperation on climate change and energy.

A modernized Columbia River Treaty would provide opportunities for the United States and Canada to address current climate challenges and its impact on water resources. A modernized treaty would also allow joint US-Canada work on critical energy solutions such as smart grid with intermittent power, grid-scale storage and clean infrastructure solutions. 

“As two of the world’s largest trading partners, our countries share mutual goals to further clean energy solutions and affect climate change. I urge you to prioritize modernization of the Columbia River Treaty and appoint a Canadian negotiating team for the benefit of both of our countries,” said Cantwell, the Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. “Given the growing impact to our climate, natural environment and economy, I believe we must find a mutually beneficial path forward to modernize the treaty in a way that balances flood control, ecosystem-based function, and hydropower generation.”

The Columbia River Treaty between the United States and Canada was signed in 1961 and controls the water flows on the Columbia River for flood control and power generation. As of September 2014, either the Unites States or Canada can terminate the Columbia River Treaty or seek changes by providing ten years notice to the other side. Neither party to the treaty has done so. In April 2015, Cantwell joined the 25 other members of the Pacific Northwest Congressional delegation in a letter to President Obama, asking the administration to move forward with a strategy for addressing the treaty.

Later today, Cantwell plans to join Secretary of State John Kerry for a lunch meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau at the Department of State.

Full text of the letter is below and available here.

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

The United States and Canada have a great opportunity to join forces on a U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Initiative.  As two of the world’s largest trading partners, our countries share mutual goals to further clean energy solutions and affect climate change.  Modernization of the Columbia River Treaty could be an important step in this partnership.  Additionally, it would allow us to work jointly on critical energy solutions such as smart grid with intermittent power, grid-scale storage and clean infrastructure solutions.  Given the United States and Canada are among the largest hydroelectric energy producers in the world, there is significant, untapped potential to generate new jobs and drive economic growth on both sides of the border. 

I urge you to prioritize modernization of the Columbia River Treaty and appoint a Canadian negotiating team for the benefit of both of our countries.

When the treaty went into effect over 50 years ago, the world did not yet understand the serious challenges that would be presented by climate change.  Given the growing impact to our climate, natural environment and economy, I believe we must find a mutually beneficial path forward to modernize the treaty in a way that balances flood control, ecosystem-based function, and hydropower generation.

A modernized treaty could serve as a template for adaptation strategies to climate challenges impact on water resources as well as demonstrate how our two countries, along with Native American Tribes and First Nations, can harmonize policies to strengthen our stewardship of a critical resource.   At the same time, there are opportunities to use the storage capability of the Columbia River Basin hydropower projects to facilitate the development of new intermittent renewable energy projects to meet the region’s growing demand for emissions-free energy.

Our countries and in particular, Washington state and British Columbia, which already partner on many cross border clean energy projects such as clean transportation and infrastructure solutions, depend on each other for economic and global success.  Let’s grow our economies and meet the challenges of the 21st Century together. 

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