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113th Congress Hearing Archives

Subcommittee on Water and Power Oversight Hearing on “Keeping Hydropower Affordable and Reliable: The Protection of Existing Hydropower Investments and the Promotion of New Development”

Thursday, September 19, 2013 | 10:00 AM 1324 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515
Subcommittee on Water and Power

Oversight Hearing on:

  • "Keeping Hydropower Affordable and Reliable: The Protection of Existing Hydropower Investments and the Promotion of New Development"

Archived Video Webcast:

Member Statements:

The Honorable Tom McClintock
Subcommittee Chairman

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

Witnesses and Testimony:

PANEL I

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

Accompanied by:
Dan Brudevold
Colville Confederated Tribes

Kerry McCalman
Senior Advisor
Hydropower and Electric Reliability Compliance Office
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Denver, Colorado

Accompanied by:
Tim Spisak
Deputy Director of Minerals and Realty Management
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Washington, D.C.

Dr. Michael J. Sale
Executive Director
Low Impact Hydropower Institute
Wartburg, Tennessee
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Randy Livingston
Vice President, Power Generation
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
San Francisco, California
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Leslie James
Executive Director
Colorado River Energy Distributors Association
Phoenix, Arizona
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Background:

Hydropower is a clean, renewable form of energy that accounts for 70 percent of electricity in Washington state, seven percent of electricity generated in the U.S. and prevents 200 million annual metric tons of carbon emissions. It is an affordable and reliable energy source that has helped build the foundation for long-term jobs and economic growth throughout much of the country. This hearing will examine how bureaucratic red tape, some federal regulations, and lawsuits diminish existing hydropower and hinder the development of new hydropower. The federal government has the ability to protect our existing hydropower resources and significantly expand this renewable energy if it updated and modernized several federal laws.

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