[randywebb]

"If an electric car is being" plugged in" it consumes more energy and is worse on the environment then just a gas burner"

- Incorrect. It is far, far easier to control a large, stationary emissions source (power plant) than thousands of small, mobile sources (cars). Also, electric cars are a good pathway towards the use of photo-voltaic panels to produce electricity from sunlight. We are not there yet in terms of economics but are making progress. Finally, there is some value in shifting pollution to less polluted areas -- and power plants can do that. It is far from perfect -- people can breathe easier in LA, but the downside is that the air quality in our National Parks and Monuments in the 4 corners area is worse - not so bad you choke, but bad enough to create haze and damage our national treasures.

Yes, dams - the very large ones - are very tough on salmon. Most dams are much smaller and the salmon can easily climb the fish ladders. The real problem with the Snake and Columbia River main dams is the opposite migration direction -- it is when the young fish head downstream. The rivers used to flush them out to sea quickly and with little need to swim. Now the rivers are like huge lakes - the swim downstream is exhausting, exposes them to predators, and - the worst thing - the turbines turn millions of the young fish into pink soup.