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United States House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Washington) introduced on June 12th legislation titled:

Hydropower Clean energy Future Act (“Act”)

The Act is described as legislation that would:

. . . expand clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable hydropower production in America, as well as promote the innovation of the next generation of hydroelectric technology.

Chairman Rodgers states that the intent of the Act is to:

• Preserve the existing hydropower fleet
• Bring more hydropower online by reforming the licensing process
• Promote innovation necessary to usher in the next generation of hydro technology

The Act is stated to:

• Confirm that hydropower is an essential renewable energy resource
• Reform the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensing process to protect existing hydropower resources and encourage the development in small and next generation projects
• Remove barriers to rapidly expanding hydropower development
• Recognize hydropower’s contribution to a more stable and reliable electric grid
• Address construction barriers the hydropower industry has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic

A copy of the Act can be downloaded here.