WGA-backed bills promoting hydropower development heading to President Obama's desk
UPDATE: The Denver Post wrote an editorial on Aug. 14 lauding passage of the bills. Read Congress Gives Hydropower a Boost.
AUG. 1:The Senate on Thursday (Aug. 1) unanimously approved a pair of bills aimed at promoting hydropower development backed by Western Governors' Association (WGA).
The bills -- "The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act" and "The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act" -- will now move on to President Obama's desk for his signature.
The bills authorize and streamline permitting for small conduit hydroelectric projects on Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) owned canals, and authorize and streamline Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions on small non-federal conduit hydroelectric projects.
The WGA publicly expressed support for the legislation in April by joining with the Western States Water Council to send a joint letter of support to the Senate's Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
"Small hydropower projects represent a significant opportunity to develop a key renewable domestic energy source and create much needed jobs, while minimizing environmental impacts," said the letter, signed by WGA Executive Director James Ogsbury and Water Council Executive Director Tony Willardson.