Pacific Northwest Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-2641
Sponsor: Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]
Introduced: 2021-04-19 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Indian lands and resources rights
Washington State
Water storage
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: 

Pacific Northwest Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act of 2021

 
This bill provides the Department of the Interior exclusive authority to develop hydropower facilities in certain instances and contains other related provisions. 
 
Specifically, Interior shall have exclusive authority to develop small conduit hydropower using Bureau of Reclamation facilities and pumped storage hydropower that exclusively use bureau reservoirs. Currently, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) also has regulatory authority over some of the bureau infrastructure involved in such projects, so some projects require approval from both Interior and FERC. 
 
The bill also imposes various requirements related to certain proposed projects involving specified tribes in Washington State. Before Interior may issue a lease to use power generated from such a project, the parties involved must agree to a study plan that lays out certain information, time lines, and procedures for addressing issues. Such a lease must also meet certain requirements, such as conditions to ensure that the project will not interfere with the tribes' hunting and fishing rights.

action_date: 2022-12-15
text: 

Pacific Northwest Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act of 2021

 
This bill provides the Department of the Interior exclusive authority to develop hydropower facilities in certain instances and contains other related provisions. 
 
Specifically, Interior shall have exclusive authority to develop small conduit hydropower using Bureau of Reclamation facilities and pumped storage hydropower that exclusively use bureau reservoirs. Currently, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) also has regulatory authority over some of the bureau infrastructure involved in such projects, so some projects require approval from both Interior and FERC. 
 
The bill also imposes various requirements related to certain proposed projects involving specified tribes in Washington State. Before Interior may issue a lease to use power generated from such a project, the parties involved must agree to a study plan that lays out certain information, time lines, and procedures for addressing issues. Such a lease must also meet certain requirements, such as conditions to ensure that the project will not interfere with the tribes' hunting and fishing rights.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 463.
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-644.
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-644.
action_date: 2021-05-26
text: Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2021-05-26
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-05-26
text: Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Discharged.
action_date: 2021-05-26
text: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.
action_date: 2021-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
action_date: 2021-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Introduced in House