Launching A New Path Toward A Cleaner, Smarter Energy Policy

Statement

Dear Friends,

As you know all too well, Congress seems to have a difficult time finding common ground these days. However, this week saw strong bipartisan consensus on the passage of renewable energy policy, when the U.S. Senate unanimously passed H.R. 267, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act (HREA). I authored this legislation with my colleague, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and it now goes to President Barack Obama to be signed into law. This bipartisan effort will help launch a new path toward a cleaner, smarter national energy policy and made all the more striking with it being only the 23rd bill to pass Congress this year.

HREA will facilitate the development of small hydropower projects and provide a smarter, more efficient hydropower permitting process. With no cost to taxpayers, this legislation will help to expand renewable and affordable hydropower -- far and away our nation's largest source of clean energy -- all while creating good jobs for families in Colorado and across the nation. In fact, The Denver Post called for a renewed push for hydropower earlier this week.

When most people think of hydropower, they think of enormous public works projects like the Hoover Dam. But there are lots of other ways to harness energy from water with minimal impact to wildlife and the environment. That's why I brought key stakeholders to the table to find a way to generate hydropower projects that are a win-win for our economy and environment.

This legislation provides a unique opportunity to put Americans back to work by expanding the nation's access to clean, affordable energy without sacrificing environmental protections. In fact, a study conducted by the National Hydropower Association estimates that by utilizing currently untapped resources, the U.S. could add approximately 60,000 megawatts of new hydropower by 2025, creating up to 700,000 jobs.

For over 130 years, hydropower has provided our nation with affordable, reliable, sustainable energy. Today, hydropower makes up two-thirds of the nation's renewable electricity supply, and regions that get a majority of their electricity from hydropower have on average the lowest electricity bills in the nation. Hydropower's flexibility contributes to a more stable electricity grid and enables integration of additional variable renewable resources.

However, only three percent of the country's 80,000 dams currently have generation facilities. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that over 12 gigawatts of capacity could be installed at our nation's existing non-powered dams. That's the equivalent of 12 nuclear power plants. HREA will go a long way in taking advantage of this underutilized source of efficient, safe, renewable energy and we now look forward to President Obama signing the legislation into law.

Even the Washington Post immediately noted today how rare it was to see such bipartisan consensus on clean energy.

As always, I encourage you to follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest news from Washington and in the district. Also, you can visit my website at www.degette.house.gov, where you can read my positions and learn about the different ways my staff can assist you. While there, be sure to visit the "Contact" page and send me an email about the issues that matter most to you and your family. Finally, be sure to share this email with your friends, family, and neighbors so that they too can be a part of this important dialogue.

Sincerely,

Diana DeGette

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