Out west, in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho workers at BPA (Bonneville Power Administration) and other publicly owned electric utility assets are somewhat relieved, as the Trump Administration has backed off its plan to sell them.  BPA operates 75 percent of the Pacific Northwest’s high voltage transmission grid, carrying hydropower from the dams on the Columbia River Basin to California and other markets.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced it would not sell off BPA—which owns and operates transmission assets in the Pacific Northwest—and other public utility assets as part of a revenue generating measure.  Just one year ago, the idea of selling the four federal power marketing administrational assets had been floated in the President’s budget proposal.

12 million residents and businesses in the Pacific Northwest who rely on the clean, affordable hydropower generated from BPA, applaud the formal decision to abandon these plans, according to congressional representatives from these states.

In addition to BPA, the other public utilities mentioned for sale a year ago included the Southeastern Power Administration, Southwestern Power Administration and the Western Area Power Administration. These four entities deliver and market power in 34 states.