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Fears over Columbia Basin dams, hydroelectricity grow as agencies lose hundreds of employees
- Several agencies managing the Columbia River hydropower system are losing hundreds of employees in 2025, threatening operational safety and reliability.
- Staffing declines follow federal orders under President Trump to cut probationary employees, freeze hiring, and offer early retirement incentives, leading to understaffing, especially at Grand Coulee Dam.
- The Bureau of Reclamation lost about 25% of its staff, BPA lost nearly 10% or 290 employees, and the Army Corps of Engineers may lose over 300 workers soon, affecting critical daily operations.
- At the May 7 budget hearing, Energy Secretary Chris Wright acknowledged that staffing levels at BPA cannot be further reduced and proposed implementing incentive and retention bonuses to help maintain critical personnel.
- The Public Power Council, representing utilities in six states relying on the dams, urges lawmakers to invest more in the hydropower system and workforce to preserve the region’s power supply.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Fears over Columbia Basin dams, hydroelectricity grow as agencies lose hundreds of employees • Washington State Standard
Construction of the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington began in 1933 and was completed in 1942. It is the largest hydropower producer in the U.S. and also part of the federal Columbia River Power System. (Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation)Grand Coulee Dam is among the most powerful energy-generating dams on earth. It’s the bedrock of the federal Columbia River Power System — a network of 31 dams supplying more than half of the hydropower in th…
Fears over Columbia Basin dams, hydroelectricity grow as agencies lose 100s of employees
Staffing cuts across Grand Coulee Dam and other federal hydropower agencies are raising concerns about grid reliability in the Pacific Northwest. Utility leaders warn that long-term damage could result from ongoing worker shortages.
Fears over Columbia Basin dams, hydroelectricity grow as agencies lose hundreds of employees - Salem Reporter
Grand Coulee Dam is among the most powerful energy-generating dams on earth. It’s the bedrock of the federal Columbia River Power System — a network of 31 dams supplying more than half of the hydropower in the Northwest. Grand Coulee alone, overseen by the federal Bureau of Reclamation, generates one-quarter of that. But critical operations at the dam are going understaffed following President Donald Trump’s orders, executed by the Office of Per…
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