Dam!

Idaho may get all of the fame, but Washington's significance in the world of potato growing is equally impressive. The link between potatoes and hydropower may not be immediately evident, but between irrigating, storing, and processing spuds that feed the world, the power required for those tasks can make or break farmers and potato consumers alike. Listen in as we discuss these subjects and m...

From professional baseball to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and now Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), John Hairston's career is illustrated by his ability to lead, be a team player, and understand the delicate balance of family and life outside of work. His time as administrator would require him to lean into these values while the agency–and the region–faced significant p...

When you think "hydropower" in the Northwest, you probably think about the region's legacy, decades-old dams. The days of building new, largescale hydroelectric dams might be behind us, but technologies like pumped storage hydro offer new ways to add more water power to our grid. Recently, Rye Development got their final green light necessary to break ground on a storage project in G...

Along the sandy shores of Washington's coastline, change is constant. Just as the pounding waves and gusty winds that roll off the Pacific change the landscape every second of every day, the people who call this rugged area home have endured economic and political changes time and time again. They're adaptable and enduring, but appreciate consistency and dependability more than most. These...

Alan Walker is a hero. He's many other things, too (namely, the executive directer of the Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council and president of the Washington Community Action Partnership), but the work that he does is essential to help thousands of residents in the Northwest meet their basic needs. Unfortunately, the cost of those needs are growing dramatically and rapidly. Energy is among tho...

What's the deal with all of this AI? From an energy perspective, our exposure to this emerging technology often comes in the form of the demand it places on the grid via data centers. However, it's rare that we hear about the technology side of AI development and the practical use cases for it. Luckily for Dam! listeners, we brought that conversation to life with the CTO and founder of Sna...

Meet the newest member of the Northwest RiverPartners team, Victor Valerio! On this episode, you’ll hear about Victor’s background before coming to the organization, the lessons he’s learned along his path in life and his career, eye-opening experiences since starting his new job, and the unique ways he’ll be helping us fulfill our mission. Enjoy!

On this very special episode of the podcast, we're joined by Grant PUD's senior manager of external affairs and communications, Chuck Allen. He shares the story of their recently released history book, "POWERING ON: The can-do legacy driving Grant PUD into the future by Grant PUD." While the history alone is fascinating, Chuck also wanted to celebrate the legacy and memory of it&...

Dam! heads to the mighty Palouse to get the scoop on the Port of Whitman County. Executive director Kara Riebold and commissioner Kristine Meyer make the perfect duo to tell the story of multi-modal transportation, recreation, improvements to the community, and of course, the value of the river system.

Class is in session! The fifth episode of Hydro 101, a sub-series of the Dam! podcast, has arrived. Hydro 101 aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of hydropower and how it interacts with energy and the environment–particularly in the Northwest. This episode explores the infrastructure responsible for solving vertical challenges on the water, the lock, from the historical developmen...

The Columbia-Snake river system, that is. Neil Maunu, executive director at the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, gives us the rundown on the integrated system of infrastructure that makes the Columbia and Snake rivers navigable. From locks and dams to dredging and jetties, it's an all hands on deck operation that provides critical services well-beyond just the Northwest, and on this ep...

There's a unique relationship between agriculture and hydropower that we've yet to fully explore on the podcast. That all changes with this latest episode, as Michelle Hennings from the Washington Association of Wheat Growers–a farmer herself–joins the podcast to discuss the multitude of benefits the dams provide to rural communities.

With Dam! winding down for 2024, we wanted to spend some time revisiting an incredible year of storytelling. You'll hear snippets from a handful of episodes, starting with our most-listened to of the year, that capture some of the most impactful moments shared on the podcast. For both those who missed these episodes or haven't heard them in sometime, we think you'll enjoy what we've put together.

While we love hydropower stories, we know that dams serve a multitude of purposes. In fact, many dams generate no power whatsoever. And, likewise, the community-owned, not-for-profit utilities that serve the Northwest offer more than energy. What remains the same is the universal commitment to environmental stewardship and collaborative solutions that benefit all. Today, we explore the story behin...

Just hearing mention of the four lower Snake River dams can stir up strong feelings for people who fall on either side of the debate over their future. Yet, it's rare to find someone who's actually stood atop–or within–these dams and spoken with the people who work at them at length. Ryan Hall, communications director at the Montana Electric Cooperatives Association and editor for Rural Montana, m...

Class is in session! The fourth episode of Hydro 101, a sub-series of the Dam! podcast, has arrived. Hydro 101 aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of hydropower and how it interacts with energy and the environment–particularly in the Northwest. This episode takes a deep dive into the units of measurement used to describe the generation and consumption of energy. By the end, you'll...

From deep into the interior Northwest to the mouth of the Columbia, river transportation is a vital yet overlooked service to the nation and the world. Rob Rich, vice president of marine services at Shaver Transportation, joins Dam! to shed a light on this "silent service," speak to the true value it provides, share the incredible opportunities it presents, and how all of this is interwo...

The future of hydropower and the utilities who depend on it across the Northwest rests in the future of our workforce. In the case of Grant PUD, that workforce is challenged by looming retirements and gaps in education and training. Yet, the utility is rising to meet those challenges head on, and convert them into opportunities for their employees and the rural community they serve. Joining us on...

"Misinformation does not serve our region or policymakers and doesn’t recover salmon." That's the message Northwest RiverPartners executive director, Clark Mather, delivered in a recent statement. That statement was in response to a campaign aimed at undermining bipartisan legislation simply meant to maintain the federal government’s commitment for the Bonneville Power Administration...

Put your party hats on! President and CEO of the National Hydropower Association, Malcolm Woolf, returns to Dam! to hype us up for National Hydropower Day and the upcoming celebration. He also provided us with updates on the state of hydropower in 2024, the challenges and opportunities ahead, ongoing work on bipartisan legislation, and the need to build momentum and increase visibility for our fav...

If you've ever wondered what the deal is behind the "Our Power is Water" campaign we've been running here at Northwest RiverPartners for the past four years, this is the podcast for you! We caught up with North's CEO, Rebecca Armstrong, to discuss digital advertising for a good cause, the nuance of telling hydropower stories in the Northwest, and the exciting, yet terrifying...

Class is in session! The third episode of our new sub-series of the regular Dam! podcast is here. Hydro 101 aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of hydropower and how it interacts with energy and the environment–particularly in the Northwest. On this installment, we walk through the timeline of events and happenings that span the era of dam-building in the region–giving birth to hy...

Fish passage is a serious matter for hydropower–especially for our Federal hydro system in the Columbia River basin. Like the dams themselves, maintaining and updating fish passage infrastructure is essential to achieving the best possible results for our aquatic friends. One of the leaders in this field is Natel, who designs fish-safe turbines to replace aging turbines and eliminate the need for...

Energy storage is not only essential to meeting our growing electricity needs, it also ensures a reliable grid. And, in places where even accessing that energy is a challenge, energy storage can alleviate the pressure on transmission infrastructure. Ravalli Electric Cooperative's slice of rural Montana is one such place, but with the help of the Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative–or PNGC...

The first step to solving a problem, is admitting you have one. We've known the demand for energy is outpacing our ability to build new generation, all while coal is retiring at a swift pace. Now, PNUCC's 2024 Northwest Regional Forecast is showing a clear gap in where we're headed, and where we need to be. It all sounds a bit scary, so we reached out and connected with their executive...