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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1175 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1175

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that hydropower is 
a vital component to an all-of-the-above approach to energy development 
         which is critical to United States national security.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 29, 2024

Mr. Newhouse (for himself, Mrs. Rodgers of Washington, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. 
  Bentz, and Mr. Zinke) submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that hydropower is 
a vital component to an all-of-the-above approach to energy development 
         which is critical to United States national security.

Whereas various forms of hydropower development have existed since as far back 
        as A.D. 21 when the Greeks and Egyptians used wheels and screws to 
        create flour and manage irrigation;
Whereas, in the United States, hydropower serves as one of the earliest and most 
        substantial sources of renewable energy with approximately 2,300 
        hydroelectric producing dams;
Whereas maintaining, utilizing, and developing all available domestic sources of 
        energy, including hydropower, can ensure the United States has a stable, 
        secure, and reliable energy supply which will enhance national security 
        by reducing dependence on foreign energy sources;
Whereas both rural and urban communities across the United States rely on 
        hydropower as a vital everyday energy source to heat homes, operate 
        appliances, and access clean air and water, particularly in the West;
Whereas hydropower is dependable, flexible, and capable of restarting the 
        electric system after major outages resulting from extreme weather, 
        natural disasters, and cyberattacks;
Whereas a robust hydropower source plays an essential role in preserving a 
        reliable and resilient United States power grid;
Whereas, outside of electricity generation, hydropower also helps with water 
        supply, irrigation support for food production activities, flood 
        control, and transportation;
Whereas hydropower also provides immense recreation and tourism benefits for 
        individuals;
Whereas, according to the United States Energy Information Administration, as of 
        2022, the top 5 States which produce the most hydroelectric energy are, 
        in descending order, Washington, Oregon, New York, California, and 
        Montana;
Whereas, in 2022, approximately 80,000,000 kilowatts of hydroelectricity net 
        summer generational capacity were generated in the United States;
Whereas, according to the Department of Energy, 28.7 percent of overall United 
        States renewable electricity generation and 6.2 percent of total United 
        States electricity generation comes from hydropower;
Whereas the hydropower industry has created jobs and economic prosperity across 
        the United States, especially in rural communities, with over 72,000 
        workers being employed in conventional hydropower, pumped storage 
        hydropower, construction, regulatory affairs, and technology 
        development;
Whereas despite the strength of the United States hydropower industry, the 
        United States is fourth globally in hydroelectricity production with 
        Brazil, Canada, and China coming in third, second, and first, 
        respectively;
Whereas, because of the hydropower development success of China, the industry in 
        China has plateaued;
Whereas, as a result, China has invested billions of dollars into energy 
        generation and transmission in Latin American countries, such as Brazil, 
        Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and African countries, such as Uganda, 
        Zambia, and Ghana; and
Whereas to combat increasing Chinese energy aggression, the United States must 
        strongly focus on attaining international hydro-hegemony to gain 
        preeminence and independence in the energy sector: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) hydropower is a necessary part of an all-of-the-above 
        approach to energy development;
            (2) protecting the existing hydropower resources and 
        establishing new ones are critical to the grid security and 
        national security of the United States;
            (3) increased hydropower production will lower energy 
        prices for American consumers, decrease the national carbon 
        footprint, and enhance the resiliency of the United States 
        power grid;
            (4) hydro-hegemony will provide the United States with an 
        indispensable edge over global competitors and foreign bad 
        actors, such as China; and
            (5) the Secretary of Energy should create a hydropower 
        independence plan which articulates a clear and comprehensive 
        proposal for how the Secretary intends to create, maintain, 
        improve, and expand a vigorous domestic hydropower industry.
                                 <all>
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