Build our future electricity supply around hydropower
Last updated 5/19/2021 at 7:13am Although New Zealand and Washington are located half a world apart, they have lots in common — beautiful seashores, majestic mountains, crystal clear streams and lakes, and — vibrant salmon and trout fisheries. Both are struggling to rid their air sheds of CO2 and other greenhouse gases coming from the burning of carbon fuels (coal, natural gas, gasoline, and diesel) in vehicles, home heating and electric-power generation. New Zealand and Washington share a common goal to be carbon-neutral by 2050. The good news is both are endowed with lots of hydropower. Renewable, greenhouse gas-free power facilities account for over 80 percent of their electricity, with the vast majority generated by falling water. While each produce wind and solar energy, New Zealand receives 17 percent from geothermal wells, and Washington’s nuclear energy plant at Hanford provides 7 percent of our state’s electricity.