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112th Congress Hearing Archives

Full Committee Oversight Hearing on "Mandatory Conditioning Requirements on Hydropower: How Federal Resource Agencies are Driving Up Electricity Costs and Decreasing the Original Green Energy"

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 | 10:00 AM 1324 Longworth House Office Building
Full Committee

COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
10:00 a.m.





OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:

  • "Mandatory Conditioning Requirements on Hydropower: How Federal Resource Agencies are Driving Up Electricity Costs and Decreasing the Original Green Energy"

NOTE: The hearing will begin immediately following the Full Committee Business Meeting to Approve the 3d Quarter Semi-Annual 112th Congress Report on Legislative and Oversight Activities.

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

J. Mark Robinson
Principal
JMR Energy Infra, LLC
Reston, Virginia
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Einar Maisch
Director of Strategic Affairs
Placer County Water Agency
Auburn, California
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Jeff Reardon
Maine Brook Trout Campaign Director
Trout Unlimited
Manchester, Maine
(Truth in Testimony Form)

John Grubich
General Manager
Public Utility District #1 of Okanogan County
Okanogan, Washington
(Truth in Testimony Form)

BACKGROUND:

The hearing will examine how federal regulations and agencies are increasing the cost of clean, affordable hydropower on millions of American families. Hydropower accounts for nearly 70% of electricity generated in the Pacific Northwest and 7% of electricity generated in the nation overall, serving as 75% of all domestic renewable energy sources. Yet, at a time when demand for low-cost, renewable and emissions-free power increases, current federal law and regulations only make it harder to increase this resource. This hearing will focus on the agencies within the Departments of the Interior, Commerce and Agriculture that are required to propose “mandatory conditions” when a non-federal hydropower project is licensed or relicensed. These requirements are added to a license under federal law and are usually absorbed by electricity consumers. This hearing will address these issues to determine potential improvements and updates to these requirements with the goal of protecting the environment and electricity consumers.