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Many developers of hydropower projects consider FERC's during the 114th Congress.Two public power utility repre-
<br /> licensing process to be long and difficult,believing that it sentatives from Snohomish Co. PUD and Turlock Irrigation
<br /> constitutes a significant impediment to the development of new District(members of the Association)testified on the difficulty
<br /> hydropower facilities.Hydropower project developers must each of their utilities have had relicensing hydro projects that
<br /> comply with a plethora of regulatory requirements.For many are important sources of non-emitting power in their generation
<br /> small and low-head hydropower projects,the costs of meeting portfolios.
<br /> environmental regulations and connecting to the electric grid
<br /> can constitute a considerable barrier.
<br /> Small hydro projects must obtain a FERC license or license American Public Power Association Position
<br /> exemption,which can be a long and complicated process. The Association strongly encourages Congress to continue to
<br /> FERC's licensing exemption process for facilities of five mega- pursue legislation that would cut the length,duplicative,and,at
<br /> watts(MW)or less requires studies and documentation,the times,contradictory regulatory processes for relicensing existing
<br /> costs of which often exceed the costs of installing the generating hydropower projects.APPA supports requiring all resource
<br /> unit itself.Endangered Species Act considerations,water quality agencies with mandatory conditions for a facility to work
<br /> issues,marine navigation,and numerous other concerns must together under the designated schedule thereby reducing waste,
<br /> all be satisfied for licensing of a new hydro project,which can improving decision-making,and reducing the potential for con-
<br /> take several years.Further,the mandatory conditions imposed flict.The Association also supports requiring resource agencies
<br /> on hydropower projects of all sizes from state and federal agen- to clearly define the objective of each mandatory condition with
<br /> cies,some of which have nothing to do with the project,have an accompanying rationale and disclosure of impacts in an open
<br /> been extremely detrimental to the process and,in some cases, and transparent manner thereby adhering to the same standard
<br /> have stopped development of given projects due to the econom- of disclosure and explanation required of the licensee and other
<br /> is impacts of those conditions. Restructuring of this process is parties submitting mandatory conditions.Streamlining the
<br /> needed. multi-agency inefficiencies associated with hydropower develop-
<br /> ment on federal projects is also necessary.
<br /> Finally,APPA continues to support legislation,programs,
<br /> Congressional Action incentives,and initiatives that spur new hydropower devel-
<br /> The House and Senate versions of comprehensive energy legis- opment,including hydrokinetic,pump storage,low-impact,
<br /> lation in the 114th Congress included bipartisan hydropower constructed waterways,non-hydro dams,and the expansion of
<br /> licensing reform provisions.In the House,an amendment existing projects.
<br /> sponsored by Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers(R-WA)
<br /> and Jerry McNerney(D-CA)passed by voice vote during the
<br /> markup of H.R. 8,the North American Energy Security and American Public Power Association Contact
<br /> Infrastructure Act of 2015,in the fall of 2015.In the Senate, Amy Thomas,Government Relations Director,202-467-2934/
<br /> a hydropower licensing reform amendment was included in athomas@publicpower.org
<br /> S.2012,the Energy Policy Modernization Act,introduced by
<br /> Energy&Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Mur-
<br /> kowski(R-AK). Both bills sought to modernize and improve
<br /> the hydropower licensing and relicensing process to make it The American Public Power Association is the voice of
<br /> more efficient and transparent while maintaining environmental not-for-profit,communityowned utilities that power
<br /> protections.APPAs President and CEO,Sue Kelly,testified on 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.We represent pub
<br /> May 19,2015,in the Senate Energy&Natural Resources Com- lic power before the federal government to protect the
<br /> mittee on the need for hydropower licensing and relicensing interests of the more than 49 million people that public
<br /> reforms,and in support of the concepts included in discussion power utilities serve,and the 93,000 people they em-
<br /> drafts of legislation on which S.2012 was based.Unfortunately, ploy. Our association advocates and advises on electricity
<br /> the energy bill conferees were unable to resolve their differences policy,technology,trends,training,and operations.Our
<br /> and the legislation died at the end of the 114th Congress.The members strengthen their communities by providing
<br /> Association encourages Congress to continue to work on these superior service,engaging citizens,and instilling pride in
<br /> issues in the 115th Congress. community-owned power.
<br /> Outside of the energy bill effort,the need for hydropower
<br /> reform was a focus of a hearing in the House Natural Resourc-
<br /> es Committee's Subcommittee on Water,Power,and Oceans
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