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Another Energy Crisis? Don't Say You Weren't Warned

© Carey Goodman

Remember the 2000 - 2001 energy crisis that caused rolling power blackouts on the US West Coast? It was a case of Mother Nature plus Enron sleaze equals mega power bills. This summer could bring a repeat of those famous rolling blackouts, but this time we only have Mother Nature to hold to account.

The problem? As in 2000 - 2001, the snow pack in the Cascades is far below its usual levels. To put it bluntly, the 2002 - 2003 snow pack is nonexistent. Consider these data:

As of 3 December 2002 Snoqualmie Pass still had grass rather than snow at its summit. A year ago at this time Snoqualmie Pass had three feet of snow pack. The average snow pack for Snoqualmie Pass is twenty-five inches by 1 December. This lack of snow is a record for the Pass, replacing the 1969 record of one inch of snow by 1 December.

White Pass also has no snow - another record (replacing the 1999 one inch level.)

Blackcomb near Vancouver, B.C. has only eighteen inches of snow - one tenth its usual 1 December level.

Stevens Pass has only one inch of snow (its worst year since 1941.)

Mount Baker has only sixteen inches of snow (its worst year since 1976.)

This is awful news for the ski industry which is laying off workers rather than hiring them. It is worse news for hydroelectric power generator companies who worry about snow pack because it produces the water source that fills rivers, lakes, and streams. Power companies need that water to convert it to electricity. Consumers need those same water supplies for other reasons. More bad news: The water flow through the main generating and processing center in Skagit County, Washington is already at less than half its normal level. No snow pack means Skagit County's drought planning activities must hit high gear. In conjunction with those efforts, drought planning activities throughout the region usually include raising power and water usage rates charged to consumers as a way to offset part of the providers' revenue loss from being unable to sell their energy surplus to California. Sales of surplus energy from hydroelectric sources in the Pacific Northwest usually bring in more than a hundred million dollars annually.

Add to this mix the prospect of oil price rises as a consequence of military action against Iraq, and you have a situation in some states that could only bring smiles from the Enron thugs. "See? We weren't so bad after all, were we?" they might ask. "Now we can't bail you out of your problem. Only something like a Duoamish version of a rain dance can save you. Too bad all the local tribes are so busy competing for federal recognition, building new cassinos, and buying race tracks".

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