TABJ - May 20 - Conflicting reports have surfaced following the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) decisions to curb coal, natural gas and wind generation in the Pacific Northwest.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) calls the decision “wrongheaded” given that it has been made with no compensatory agreements in times of high hydropower generation.

The BPA has said that the decision comes as part of aims to increase hydropower generation and in doing so, protect fisheries including salmon.

Other reports point to a temporary oversupply of hydropower as the lead cause behind the move, noting that it will result in partial limiting of power generation from other means. These reports also state that limits made to wind generation— approximately 200 to 350 megawatts from the approximate 3,500 megawatts connected to the grid until 5am—were enforced as a last resort after coal, natural gas and other thermal power sources.