This bill requires Federal Columbia River Power System operations to follow the 2020 EIS decision rather than later fish restoration initiatives. Changes to dam operations or Snake River navigation restrictions would require congressional authorization.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill requires Federal Columbia River Power System operations to follow the 2020 EIS decision rather than later fish restoration initiatives. Changes to dam operations or Snake River navigation restrictions would require congressional authorization.
Last updated: 1/5/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Northwest Energy Security Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) operations to be consistent with the preferred alternative in a 2020 environmental impact statement (EIS) decision that focuses on the operations, maintenance, and configuration of dams in the system rather than wild fish restoration. The system includes dams in the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho.</p><p>Specifically, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must operate the FCRPS consistent with the <em>Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision</em> dated September 2020. Thus, Reclamation, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the Army Corps must follow the EIS rather than the 2023 Resilient Columbia Basin Initiative—and a supplemental EIS proposed in 2024—that focus on wild fish restoration in the Columbia Basin.</p><p>The EIS decision may be amended if each agency determines that (1) changes are necessary for public safety or electrical grid reliability, or (2) certain requirements in the decision are no longer necessary.</p><p>Further, the bill requires statutory authorization for any structural modification, action, study, or engineering plan that (1) restricts FCRPS hydroelectric dam generation; or (2) limits navigation on the Snake River in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires FCRPS to follow 2020 EIS decision
Supersedes 2023 Resilient Columbia Basin Initiative
Requires congressional approval for dam modifications
Protects hydroelectric generation and navigation
Limits agency discretion on Columbia and Snake rivers
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Hydroelectric power generation and river navigation would be protected from fish restoration modifications. Environmental groups seeking dam changes would need congressional approval, shifting power from agencies to Congress.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Water Resources Development
Related Subjects
Alternative and renewable resources
Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Idaho
Lakes and rivers
Montana
Oregon
Washington State
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
626, 119th Congress (2025). "Northwest Energy Security Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-626
