WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers led the House Energy and Commerce Committee in advancing 42 bills that her office says will “unleash affordable and reliable American energy, lower health care costs, improve consumer protections, and strengthen our national security by cutting China out of our supply chains.”
One of these bills on its way to the full House is the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act (H.R. 4045), which McMorris Rodgers introduced earlier this year. This bipartisan legislation would expand clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable hydropower production in America, as well as promote the innovation of the next generation of hydroelectric technology.
Specifically, the bill:
- Confirms that hydropower is an essential renewable energy resource for all Americans
- Reforms the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing process
- Removes barriers to rapidly expanding hydropower development
- Recognizes hydropower’s contributions to a more stable and reliable electric grid
- Addresses construction barriers the hydropower industry faced due to the pandemic
“In Eastern Washington, we are showing the world what’s possible when we unleash the potential of hydropower, the largest source of renewable energy in the United States. This baseload power produced by our dams can be dispatched at a moment’s notice, helping businesses keep their lights on and families heat their homes,” said McMorris Rodgers. “Without hydropower, our communities would be at serious risk of life-threatening blackouts. Not to mention, these dams are critical to helping us reduce carbon emissions without jeopardizing reliability.”
In addition to the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act, McMorris Rodgers and the Energy and Commerce Committee advanced bills to “unlock” nuclear and hydropower energy, protect the electric grid from “harmful regulations” and supply chain shortages, and preserve people’s access to affordable housing and home appliances.
