Congressman Gosar Pushes Common-Sense Legislation to Eliminate Unnecessary Paperwork to Create Jobs and Expand Use of Clean Affordable Energy

Press Release

The Subcommittee on Water and Power today held a legislative hearing on H.R. 2842, the "Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2011," introduced by Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-03) and cosponsored by Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-01). The legislation streamlines burdensome red tape and reduces administrative costs for the installation of increased small canal and pipeline hydropower development projects. Increased small hydropower installation will create local jobs, add clean, inexpensive electricity to the grid and supply the federal government with additional revenues while modernizing infrastructure. The Family Farm Alliance, the National Water Resources Association and the American Public Power Association have endorsed the bill.

"At a time when our country needs to focus on domestic energy production and job creation, hydropower can play a critical role in providing clean renewable energy while expanding job opportunities in rural America," said Rep. Tipton. "If enacted, this legislation will streamline the regulatory process and reduce administrative costs for small hydropower development at Reclamation's facilities while supporting the creation of badly needed rural jobs."

"I want to commend our subcommittee members Scott Tipton and Paul Gosar who are spearheading the effort to clear away these bureaucratic obstacles that stand between this nation and literally thousands -- if not tens of thousands -- of megawatts of clean, cheap, abundant and reliable hydroelectricity," said Water and Power Subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock. "This simple and commonsense solution means vast quantities of hydroelectricity -- without a single new dam and at a cost to the government of precisely nothing. That means more jobs, cheaper and cleaner electricity, reduced reliance on fossil fuels and less reliance on foreign sources of energy -- that's what this administration is currently blocking. All they have to do is get out of the way. But they won't."

"H.R. 2842 is a common-sense proposal that reduces regulatory red tape and will facilitate the expansion of low-cost emissions-free hydropower Reclamation facilities in Arizona and across the country," said Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-01). "Rural areas like Arizona's First Congressional District have been hit hardest by the economic downturn. Legislation like H.R. 2842 is exactly the type of initiative Congress should seek to implement quickly, efficiently, and safely to spur economic development in rural areas, support American energy independence, and put people back to work at no cost to the taxpayer."

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