John Stossel: Dam shame: Green activists target clean hydropower to ‘save the fish’

nstead of using fossil fuels, we’re told to use “clean” energy: wind, solar or hydropower.

Hydro is the most reliable. Unlike wind and sunlight, it flows steadily.

But now, environmental groups want to destroy dams that create hydro power.

“Breach those dams,” activists shout. “Now is the time, our fish are on the line!”

The activists have targeted four dams on the Snake River in Washington state. They claim the dams are driving salmon to extinction.

It’s true that dams once killed lots of salmon. Pregnant fish need to swim upriver to have babies, and their babies swim downriver to the ocean.

Salmon population dropped sharply.

But that was in the 1970s.

Today, most salmon make it past the dam without trouble.

Fish-protecting innovations like fish ladders and spillways guide most of the salmon away from the turbines that generate electricity.

“Between 96% and 98% of the salmon successfully pass each dam,” says Todd Myers, Environmental Director at the Washington Policy Center.

Even federal scientific agencies now say we can leave dams alone and fish will be fine.

But environmental groups don’t raise money by acknowledging good news.

“Snake River Salmon Are in Crisis,” reads a headline from Earthjustice.

Gullible media fall for it.