IV 
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 ex-
isted 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 en-
ergy with approximately 2,300 hydroelectric producing 
dams; 
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•HRES 1175 IH 
Whereas maintaining, utilizing, and developing all available 
domestic sources of energy, including hydropower, can 
ensure the United States has a stable, secure, and reli-
able 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 result-
ing 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 pro-
duction 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 per-
cent of overall United States renewable electricity genera-
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•HRES 1175 IH 
tion and 6.2 percent of total United States electricity 
generation comes from hydropower; 
Whereas the hydropower industry has created jobs and eco-
nomic prosperity across the United States, especially in 
rural communities, with over 72,000 workers being em-
ployed in conventional hydropower, pumped storage hy-
dropower, construction, regulatory affairs, and technology 
development; 
Whereas despite the strength of the United States hydro-
power 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 Amer-
ican 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 inter-
national hydro-hegemony to gain preeminence and inde-
pendence in the energy sector: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that— 
(1) hydropower is a necessary part of an all-of- 
the-above approach to energy development; 
(2) protecting the existing hydropower re-
sources and establishing new ones are critical to the 
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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 com-
petitors and foreign bad actors, such as China; and 
(5) the Secretary of Energy should create a hy-
dropower independence plan which articulates a 
clear and comprehensive proposal for how the Sec-
retary intends to create, maintain, improve, and ex-
pand a vigorous domestic hydropower industry. 
Æ 
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