SKAGIT COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A years-long tug of war between a major Seattle utility company and Skagit County just made major headway.

The Skagit Board of County Commissioners voted on Monday, March 30 to approve a relicensing agreement with Seattle City Light.

The utility has been negotiating with the county since 2019 in hopes of renewing a 50-year license to operate three dams on the Skagit River.

The dams are essential to Seattle’s energy supply, providing about 20% of the city’s electric power.

Under the proposed settlement, Seattle City Light would pledge nearly $980 million to build fish passage over its dams.

It would also spend an additional $150 million on salmon habitat restoration projects.

County commissioners emphasized the need to hold City Light accountable to its promises, having previously voiced concerns that the utility could take over farmland to carry out its restoration projects.

“The FERC settlement requires Seattle City Light to provide a safe and appropriate level of Army Corps-managed flood storage at Ross Dam, which plays a major role in keeping our community safe from flood risk,” said Commissioner Peter Browning. “This is consistent with federal law, which makes flood risk reduction the first operational purpose of Seattle City Light’s Skagit River dams. We thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Skagit Dike Districts, and Skagit Drainage Districts for their continuous support and assistance as we negotiated this vitally important part of the settlement agreement.”

“Salmon are a central part of our community’s culture, and fish passage is a proven way to significantly increase harvest for tribal and non-tribal fishers alike,” said Commissioner Joe Burns. “The promise of fish passage is a major reason that we approved the settlement agreement, and we look forward to Seattle City Light implementing fish passage in good faith.”

Seattle City Light GM & CEO Dawn Lindell responded to the concerns, saying “City Light does not intend to use condemnation authority to acquire property in the [Skagit River] estuary.”

The agreement now awaits approval from the Seattle City Council.