Northwest hydro outlook questionable as heat, drought push demand higher

摘要

In June, the Bonneville Power Administration had so much hydro supply and wind power funneling through its system that it was forced to spill water just to keep the system in balance.rnBut the bountiful water is not destined to last long. BPA Spokesman Scott Simms said this year's early excess was more a matter of how the snow pack melted rather than evidence of above-average supply. Simms said a mid-May heat spike following a cool April created a fast runoff.rn"We're actually looking at an average or below-average water year," Simms said. While media reports focused on the abundant snow pack in western Washington and Oregon, much of it was too low in the Bonneville Dam system to be of much use, he said.rn"Canada, Montana and Idaho and parts of Washington and Oregon were less than stellar," he said.