House approves bill to bolster existing hydropower production
With fewer than 3 percent of dams across the United States generating electricity, the House recently approved a bill that aims to bolster hydropower production by streamlining the relicensing process for existing hydropower projects, which can span 10 years or longer.
Upgrading existing facilities and increasing the generation capacity of existing dams could lead to a 50 percent increase in hydropower production, the Department of Energy reports. Realizing untapped hydropower potential would also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 5.6 billion metric tons, resulting in an estimated $209 million avoided damages.
Under the House-approved Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) would be designated the lead agency in federal authorizations of hydropower projects. FERC would also be given authority to extend preliminary four-year hydropower projects. Additionally, FERC would be directed to create an efficient process for scheduling reviews.
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), who introduced the bill, said that hydropower is clean, renewable, reliable, and crucial to the way of life of people in the Pacific Northwest.
“This bill won’t change outcomes or environmental standards,” McMorris Rodgers said. “Instead, it will speed up the relicensing process and save time and money. Providing relief from these costly and time-consuming regulatory processes will encourage investment in hydropower so we can continue to support this clean energy in our region.”
Hydropower currently accounts for just 6 percent of total domestic electricity production, and just 46 percent of renewable energy generation, the Department of Energy reports.
In another move targeting the hydropower licensing process, FERC issued a new policy for establishing terms for hydropower projects on non-federal dams in October. The policy outlines 40-year default license terms for new hydropower projects. The move aims to bring more certainty and efficiency to stakeholders navigating the regulatory process.
