WASHINGTON A bill that bypasses more regulations on existing Bureau of Reclamation water canals and pipes passed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
The bill was sponsored U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, a Republican from Cortez, in order to streamline regulations for small hydropower projects that have been approved by the Bureau of Reclamation. The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act passed with unanimous Republican support and 28 votes from Democrats. Almost the entire Colorado delegation voted for the bill, with the exception of U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Democrat.
U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Calif., unsuccessfully tried to amend the bill to remove language that exempted the projects from review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
While I support the goal of increasing hydropower, this bill goes a step too far by granting a blanket exemption from critical environmental laws, Napolitano said in a statement.
Tipton disagreed, saying small water projects such as canals have already passed regulation within the Bureau of Reclamation.
This is just bringing common sense to policy. We arent eliminating anything in terms of being able to protect the environment because it was already studied, he said in an interview.
According to the National Hydropower Association, hydropower is the cleanest and most cost-effective way to deliver electricity. In Colorado, 31 percent of renewable energy is hydropower.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would generate $5 million in federal revenue over 10 years. Tipton agreed, saying Colorado could generate as much electricity as the Glen Canyon Dam without building anything new.
All this does is simplify the process, said Tipton.
Several organizations endorsed the bill, including the Family Farm Alliance, the National Water Resources Association and the Association of California Water Agencies.
The bill will next go to the Senate, where it is likely to have a tougher time.
Kelcie Pegher is a student at American University in Washington, D.C., and an intern for The Durango Herald. Reach her at [email protected]
