DeGette-Authored Hydropower Act Delivering Results For Colorado

Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (C0-01) was proud to announce that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the Silverton-based San Juan County Historical Society's proposed 11 kilowatt small hydro project. The project qualifies for exclusion from federal permitting requirements under the recently-enacted Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act (HREA), authored by Rep. DeGette.

The law facilitates the development of small hydropower and conduit projects and directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to study the feasibility of a streamlined two-year permitting process. The Silverton project is the first Colorado project approved under this new reform, and one of the first in the nation.

Earlier this year, Reps. DeGette and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) authored and passed the bi-partisan legislation in the House of Representatives. In August, President Obama signed HREA into law.

"I am so proud that one of the first small hydro projects in the nation to benefit from my legislation is happening right here in Colorado, helping to create jobs in our state, and demonstrating the impact of smarter, more efficient hydropower project permitting," said DeGette. "For Colorado and the nation, this law is already delivering tangible results by expanding renewable and affordable hydropower and creating good jobs for American families. This bipartisan effort will continue our nation on the path to clean energy leadership and help get Americans back to work."

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