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 Congressman Steve Daines’ legislation to expand hydropower production in Montana today received its first hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

In a Natural Resources Subcomittee on Water and Power hearing, Daines testified on how his bill, the Bureau of Reclamation Conduit Hydropower Development Equity and Jobs Act (H.R. 1963) would help lift regulatory barriers that presently block new hydropower development in Montana and other western states.

“In Montana, we say ‘whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting.’ That’s how important water is to our state,”Daines stated in the hearing. “With passage of my bill, we can streamline the red tape for hydro developers, and allow generation of clean energy for America and necessary revenue for hardworking Americans, at no cost to the American taxpayer.”

Daines’ bill has received strong support and consensus from Montana irrigation districts and ag groups, as well as the Obama administration, which also expressed its support for Daines’ bill during today’s hearing.

In testimony provided on behalf of the Bureau of Reclamation, Senior Advisor Robert Quint expressed support for H.R. 1963 and increasing “the generation of clean, renewable hydroelectric power in existing canals and conduits.”

H.R. 1963 will remove outdated federal statutes that currently prevent irrigation districts in Montana and other western states from developing hydropower on Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) canals, ditches, and conduits.

There are 12 projects nationwide that would be immediately impacted by Daines’ bill, four of which are in Montana (a map and full list available here).

Additionally, Daines’ bill, in combination with H.R. 678— the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act, which recently passed through the House with overwhelming bipartisan support—could lead to development of at least 32 conduit hydropower sites on BOR conduits in Montana.

Video of Daines’ full testimony is available for download here.

Support for Daines’ Legislation

Mike Carlson, Manger of Buffalo Rapids Buffalo Rapids Irrigation Project in Glendive: “I thank Congressman Daines for his leadership on this issue. The Congressman’s bill provides an important opportunity for small irrigation producers to provide clean energy to our communities and receive some support for us to continue and improve our services to our farmers.”

Carlson’s full testimony, submitted into the record, may be found here.

Dan Keppen, Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance: “If passed, this legislation would complete the policy of promoting the development of clean, renewable hydropower at all Reclamation conduits at no cost to federal taxpayers, while providing additional power supplies to the grid and lowering energy costs for consumers… We support H.R. 1963 and believe it will reduce costs to foster more conduit hydropower at federal facilities and empower local water districts to develop this generation.”

Keppen’s letter, as submitted into the record, may be found here.

Thomas F. Donnelly, Executive Vice President of the National Water Resources Association: “H.R. 1963 works to comprehensively streamline the hydropower permitting process. H.R. 1963 will create tremendous incentives for not only the Bureau but for the irrigation districts and water user associations that manage many of these facilities to move forward on small hydropower development. We applaud your leadership and strongly support your legislation.”

Donnelly’s letter, as submitted into the record, may be found here.

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