9th Circuit OKs hydroelectric spending

SAN FRANCISCO — The Ninth Circuit denied three environmental groups’ petitions for review challenging the Bonneville Power Administration’s decision to spend just 10% of its excess financial reserves on measures to protect fish and wildlife. The BPA, a federal agency that sells hydroelectric power in the Columbia River Basin, is required to spend excess money when its reserves grow too large, but the panel held the provision in question does not govern its choice of how to spend its reserves.