WASHINGTON, D.C.
A bill passed 417-3 yesterday by the House of Representatives
authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to authorize a number of
water resource development activities, including those associated with
hydroelectric power generation.
The Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 --
or officially House Resolution 3080 -- preserves Congress's role in
authorizing projects at Corps dams and reservoirs, while also preventing
ad hoc alterations that could present a risk to federal hydropower
generation.
Passage of the bill is being lauded by the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association (NRECA), which noted that many co-ops are
heavily dependent on hydro power generated at Corps projects.
"Hydro power accounts for the majority of emissions-free renewable
energy generated in this country and co-ops partnered with the federal
government on this valuable energy source from the start," NRECA
representative Kirk Johnson said.
The association said the loss of hydropower generated at Corps
projects would require "co-ops to seek more expensive, and potentially
less clean, replacement power." Also included in the legislation are provisions to streamline the
Water Resources Development Act of 1986 by limiting the duration of
feasibility studies to three years; limiting the cost of any studies to
US$3 million; requiring Corps personnel to conduct concurrent reviews of
feasibility studies; and requiring the Secretary of the Army to
initiate federally-mandated reviews of feasibility studies with 90 days
of their submission.
The resolution will now be passed to the Senate for consideration. If ultimately signed by President Barack Obama, H.R. 3080 would be
the latest of several hydroelectric power bills passed during the
current Congressional session.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/10/u-s-house-approves-bbill-with-hydroelectric-power-provisions
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