McMorris Rodgers bill aims to speed up hydropower relicensing process and increase production

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced a bill last week that would include hydropower in the federal definition of “renewable energy,” while at the same time streamlining the lengthy relicensing process for hydropower producers.

“Hydropower plays a major role in our economy and energy supply in Eastern Washington,” McMorris Rodgers, a co-chair of the Congressional Northwest Energy Caucus, said. “It is clean, safe, reliable, renewable and affordable.”

Under the congresswoman’s Hydropower Regulatory Modernization Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) would have authority to extend preliminary hydropower permits for four years, and to consider an additional four years beyond that. Additionally, FERC would be directed to draft a relicensing schedule after producers file applications to expedite the process.

“On average, it takes only 18 months to license a new natural gas facility, but it can take up to 10 years or longer to license a new hydropower project or relicense an existing facility,” McMorris Rodgers said.

The bill also outlines a plan to use emerging technology like small hydropower and conduit projects to generate hydropower along small irrigation canals and municipal water supply conduits and other infrastructure.

Hydropower currently accounts for nearly 70 percent of energy production in Washington State, and studies have shown that hydropower capabilities could be doubled by modernizing and streamlining relicensing procedures.

“As the largest source of renewable energy in the United States, we need to modernize the way we license and relicense hydropower and this legislation will do that,” McMorris Rodgers said.