Pacific Northwest Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act of 2021

1/11/2023, 1:49 PM

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.

Congress
117

Number
S - 1246

Introduced on
2021-04-20

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

4/20/2021

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

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.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to amend the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize pumped storage hydropower development utilizing multiple Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs.

Policy Areas
Water Resources Development

Potential Impact
Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Indian lands and resources rights
Washington State
Water storage
Water use and supply

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary6/16/2021

Pacific Northwest Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act of 2021

This bill provides the Department of the Interior exclusive authority to develop hydropower facilities in c...


Latest Action4/20/2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.