Oral history interview with Ed W. Sheets, 1998 November 10-2000 September 28

Tape 1, Side 1, through Tape 2, Side 1. In the first interview session, conducted on November 10, 1998, Sheets discusses his family background and early life in Spokane, Washington, and in Portland, Oregon, including his education and his early political beliefs. He talks about his experiences studying political science at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, including his involvement with the college radio station, and an internship with the Rhode Island state legislature. He also talks about his opposition to the Vietnam War. He shares his experiences as a graduate student at the University of Washington school of communications, including producing a series of programs on the environment for local television stations.

Tape 2, Side 2, through Tape 3, Side 2. In the second interview session, conducted on November 15, 1998, Sheets continues to discuss programs on the environment that he produced while at UW. He talks about his marriage to Ronda Skubi. He talks about working as a special assistant to U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson from 1977 to 1981, and speaks at length about Magnuson's political career, and about some of the energy and environmental issues he worked on for the senator.

In the third interview session, conducted on November 25, 1998, Sheets continues to discuss his work as special assistant to U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson, and speaks at length about the passage of the Northwest Power Act of 1980. He speaks about the history of public and private power utilities in the Pacific Northwest leading up to the passage of the act, particularly the Bonneville Power Administration and the Washington Public Power Supply System; and describes how the Northwest Power Act led to the creation of the Northwest Power Planning Council. He talks about other members of Magnuson's staff, and about Magnuson's unsuccessful 1980 re-election campaign.

In the fourth interview session, conducted on January 22, 1999, Sheets discusses serving as director of the Washington State Energy Office during Governor John Spellman's administration in 1981, particularly focusing on working with the Washington State Legislature to create the NWPPC. He talks about serving as the first executive director of the NWPPC, about the first members of the NWPPC, and about the first NWPPC meetings.

In the fifth interview session, conducted on June 15, 1999, Sheets continues to talk about serving as the first executive director of the NWPPC, about the first members of the NWPPC, and about the first NWPPC meetings. He discusses the first plans and recommendations produced by the council regarding salmon population loss mitigation at hydro-electric dams, power production, and energy conservation. He talks about the council's relationship with the BPA and other electric utilities in the Pacific Northwest, about its relationship with federal agencies, and about its relationship with the public. He speaks about opposition to the council's recommendations, including lawsuits.

In the sixth interview session, conducted on June 24, 1999, Sheets continues to talk about serving as the first executive director of the NWPPC. He speaks further about opposition to the council's plans, particularly from the BPA, and about the council's relationship with federal agencies and with local Native American tribes. He discusses the NWPPC fish and wildlife plan, which aimed to conserve salmon populations, and talks about the plan's implementation. He speaks about the conflicting interests among the Northwest states during the plan's amendment processes in the 1980s and 1990s.

In the seventh interview session, conducted on November 8, 1999, Sheets continues to talk about serving as the first executive director of the NWPPC. He briefly talks about changes in the council's membership during the 1980s and 1990s. He speaks about the NWPPC energy conservation plan, and about the plan's implementation. He talks about changes to the NWPCC's fish and wildlife plan during the 1990s.

In the eighth and final interview session, conducted on September 28, 2000, Sheets continues to talk about serving as the first executive director of the NWPPC. He speaks further about the changes to the NWPPC's fish and wildlife plan during the 1990s. He talks about political changes in some Northwest states during the 1990s and about how that affected the council and its plans; speaks about leaving the council in 1995; and discusses the actions of the council since his departure. He talks about the life cycle of salmon and about the importance of restoring salmon habitats. He discusses his activities since leaving the council, particularly his work as a consultant for Native tribes. He closes the interview by talking about deregulation of electric utilities and power rates.