Bringing Hydropower Into the 21st Century

Statement

Congressman Lamborn (CO-05) supports H.R. 3043, the Hydropower Modernization Act of 2017, sponsored by Congresswoman Rodgers. This bill intends to bring hydropower permitting into the 21st Century by improving efficiency, accountability and transparency within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission while also reducing federal duplication. Hydropower is an emissions-free source of electricity that accounts for much of the nation's total renewable electricity generation. In fact, only three percent of existing dams in the United States produce hydroelectricity. This illustrates the vast opportunity in this country for new hydropower generation.

"In the Water, Power and Oceans Subcommittee which I chair, we have spent much of this Congress crafting and advancing legislation to capitalize on these opportunities," said Rep. Lamborn. "Legislation such as my bill, the Bureau of Reclamation Pumped Storage Hydropower Act, is intended to promote pumped storage hydropower development at existing Reclamation facilities. Mrs. McMorris Rodgers' bill in front of us today goes hand-in-hand with those efforts. Through these and other efforts, I look forward to continuing to work with the Congresswoman and the Committee to continue supporting clean, renewable hydropower and advancing our nation's "all-of-the-above" energy strategy."

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