[Senate Hearing 117-]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022
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U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
Washington, DC.
NONDEPARTMENTAL WITNESSES
[Clerk's note.--The subcommittee was unable to hold
hearings on nondepartmental witnesses. The statements and
letters of those submitting written testimony are as follows:]
Prepared Statement of Aclara Technologies, LLC
As a leading technology provider to electric, gas and water
utilities, Aclara Technologies, LLC--a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Hubbell Incorporated \1\--respectfully urges you to prioritize
modernization of the nation's electric distribution systems and funding
to improve the performance, efficiency, and safety of our nation's
energy and water distribution infrastructure in the Fiscal Year (FY)
2022 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. We thank you for this
opportunity to express our support for this funding and appreciate your
consideration.
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\1\ Hubbell Incorporated is an international manufacturer of high
quality, reliable electrical and utility solutions for a broad range of
customer and end market applications. With 2020 revenues of $4.2
billion, Hubbell Incorporated operates 70 manufacturing facilities in
the United States, employing over 9,550 Americans, and has additional
facilities and employees around the world. The corporate headquarters
is located in Shelton, CT. Hubbell Inc. acquired Aclara Technologies in
2018.
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Aclara Technologies, LLC (``Aclara'') provides smart infrastructure
technologies to electric, gas and water utilities, with offerings in
advanced metering, utility automation, methane sensing, device
networking and communications, data management, analytics, and customer
service. Over 1,100 utilities in thirty-six countries rely on proven
Aclara solutions. There are currently 1,000 Aclara clients located in
all 50 states and Aclara employs over 1,500 staff in the United States
and over 195 internationally. Companies like Aclara prove that smart
technologies mean jobs, not just at Aclara, but also at utilities in
the form of installation and monitoring jobs.
Aclara offers its strong support for the advancement of
technologies that can improve our nation's energy and water
distribution networks by providing enhanced monitoring, detection, and
control capabilities. These technologies are an important and cost-
effective way to increase reliability, efficiency, and safety of our
ageing infrastructure. Supporting the advancement of these technologies
will be crucial as the country's energy and water distribution networks
continue to age and as the risks for utilities and network operators
rise.
electrical distribution infrastructure
The U.S. currently has over 500 million above-ground utility poles
with over 5 million miles of overhead distribution conductors fed from
greater than 62,000 distribution substations. Aclara understands that
electric utilities must divide their collective attention between many
priorities including maintaining the vast distribution infrastructure
mentioned above and adapting the infrastructure to the deployment of
distributed energy resources such as solar, wind, and storage. The
technology to verify the health of the distribution assets such as the
position and orientation of utility poles and the attached conductors
is in development to enable utilities to sense, for example, a car has
collided with a utility pole or an overhead conductor has dropped from
the utility pole. Other key analytics about clusters of these
conditions, as when windstorms or ice buildups cause cascade failures
of conductor support systems, enable utilities to respond in real time
to failure events as well as better estimate resources required for
large scale recoveries. The technology in development is also very
cost-effective, as it can be installed on new distribution system
construction and easily retrofitted to existing distribution
infrastructure. In addition to ensuring funds are dedicated to the
advancement of distribution infrastructure, we also urge you to support
appropriations for technologies to make our electrical distribution
asset monitoring systems ``smarter,'' particularly when failure of
these systems presents a safety risk to the public.
Specifically, for FY22, we urge support for two important
demonstration projects to be carried out within the DOE Office of
Electricity's Resilient Distribution Systems Grid Sensors and Sensor
Analytics program. The first demonstration project should focus on
utilizing data from advanced distribution sensors that are deployed on
existing distribution lines to predict and/or detect vegetation contact
in order to mitigate wildfires and wildfire impacts.The second
demonstration project should focus on measuring the condition of
utility poles in terms of their position, impacts, and presence of high
temperatures. Data from the sensors should be utilized and visualized
from these devices to provide useful and immediate analytics to improve
the safety of the general public and improve electrical distribution
network performance indices.
Also of importance in discussions about electric grid
infrastructure is the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For
decades, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) has been used as a dielectric
insulator in gas insulated systems. One pound of SF6 has the same
global warming potential as 22,800 pounds of CO2.
Additionally, since it is such a stable compound, it has a life of
3,200 years in the atmosphere vs 200 years for CO2. The US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a voluntary
program in which partner companies agree to reduce SF6 emissions
through technically and economically feasible actions. Although SF6
designs have been commercially available and have functioned reliably
for the past 30 years, new available technologies have emerged at
comparable prices that offer superior performance and a greatly reduced
carbon footprint. These alternatives should be strongly promoted in
grid devices operating under 72kV. Unfortunately, there has not been a
good alternative found for SF6 for grid equipment above 72kV. As such,
we urge DOE to advance safe and effective capture and reuse
technologies for SF6 in grid equipment above 72kV.
water infrastructure
Although many of our nation's water and wastewater systems have
been around for more than a century, water infrastructure spending has
received a significantly smaller and decreasing share of total
infrastructure investment. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) estimates a needed investment of $750 billion over the next 20
years to maintain the nation's drinking water and wastewater
infrastructure. Without the necessary federal funding to close the gap,
communities across the country will continue to face rate increases
that disproportionately impact our most vulnerable communities.
Water leaks cost many cities as much as 10 to 30 percent loss of
their water, leaks that also waste a lot of energy. The EPA estimates
that drinking water and wastewater systems account for 30 to 40 percent
of total energy consumed by municipalities. As much as 8.4 billion
kilowatts is wasted each year moving water nationwide. Due to ageing
infrastructure, significant energy savings are possible through the use
of leak detection and pressure monitoring technologies to improve
operational efficiencies and reduce water loss.
Water system efficiency and smart water networks should be a
clearly stated goal of any investments made in our nation's water
infrastructure. Water distribution systems should be modernized in a
way that increases water and energy efficiency and enables customers
and utilities to interact with it as never before. This will require
smart water networks that facilitate the collection of data via sensors
along distribution networks, advanced analytics, and the incorporation
of communications technologies to optimize performance, preempt
problems, and allow for rapid response.
The utilization of infrastructure solutions such as distribution
network leak detection, pressure monitoring, and sanitary and combined
sewer monitoring technologies during upgrades to water and wastewater
systems help optimize water delivery performance, reduce energy usage,
limit water waste in distribution systems, and enhance modeling of
sewer collection networks. This will help to improve operations,
maintenance, and capital expenditure in planning and budgeting, and
increase spatial and temporal monitoring data available on U.S. water
quality and quantity.
One key aspect of smart water networks is advanced metering
infrastructure (AMI). AMI can offer communities multiple advantages to
improve their management of water, reducing water and energy waste, and
decrease costs for distributors, operators, and consumers. Detailed
consumption data provided by AMI can help reduce water use in many
ways, including:
--Detects system leaks--Non-revenue water costs utilities $4.9
billion per year. AMI can help drastically reduce water leaks
and associated costs by creating a continuous flow of
information from advanced meters, combined with advanced data
analytics, that enables water suppliers to rapidly and
precisely identify water losses and conservation opportunities.
--Helps consumers save water (and money)--AMI allows for hourly data
to be made available to end consumers. Providing this kind of
detailed water use information to consumers through an
associated consumer engagement application or customer portal
is proven to increase conservation, thereby saving consumers
money on their monthly water bills.
--Provides resilience during and following natural disasters--for
example, Aclara's system in New York City, which serves more
than 9 million people, weathered Hurricane Sandy with minimal
disruption. Aclara's water meter transmission units have a 20
year battery life and its data collectors offer a rugged,
weather-proofed design that stores 28 days of data with a 14
day back up battery life. Deployments offer redundancy so that
if an individual data collector is disabled, another collector
can continue to obtain meter data for that area, offering
resiliency critical after earthquakes, floods or other
disasters.
natural gas infrastructure
The U.S. currently has 2.4 million miles of natural gas pipeline
infrastructure and approximately 400 storage fields, which combined
carry around 25% of the total energy consumed in the U.S. The low cost
and relative abundance of natural gas is driving the aggressive
expansion of new pipeline infrastructure. It is also causing increased
use of existing infrastructure, putting pressure on an ageing system.
As our reliance on natural gas continues to expand, so will the
pressures on our natural gas infrastructure. As such, it is imperative
that adequate funding be provided for both pressure management--which
increases the efficiency of natural gas distribution networks--as well
as methane detection technology, which can reduce the occurrence and
severity of methane leaks which cost utilities money and can present a
significant risk to public health.
Continuous gas pressure monitoring enhances early leak detection by
recognizing and interpreting gas line pressure fluctuations. A sudden,
unexplained drop in pressure could be a burst pipe or a gas leak.
Utilizing an AMI supported gas pressure monitoring system will provide
utilities with a constant stream of data to alert them to these
potential issues. Smart pressure monitoring requires a wireless
communications system including sensors that measure pressure at
critical points, software that analyses the pressure status at such
points and calculates responses to achieve a desired pressure, and a
controller device to prompt smart valves whose use can save energy.
Smart gas pressure management will allow utilities to better monitor
and control system gas pressures according to demand. While reducing
potential leaks, it can also reduce operating cost associated with site
visits and ``linepack''.
Advanced leak detection technologies are crucial to curbing methane
emissions from natural gas pipelines and storage fields and decreasing
the risk of major gas leaks and accidents. Take, for example, the Aliso
Canyon methane leak in California, which lasted over four months and
released approximately 97,100 metric tons of methane into the
atmosphere (more than the estimated total annual emissions from the
entire U.S. pipeline infrastructure). Leaks like the one in Aliso
Canyon demonstrate that the magnitude of risk faced by the natural gas
industry is great, and that even more substantial risks exist for
citizens living in the surrounding area and the environment. The key to
reducing methane leakage--and associated environmental, safety, and
economic impacts--from natural gas distribution networks is being able
to locate and close leaks quickly and effectively. While traditional
infrastructure replacements, upgrades, and periodic monitoring
technologies do not allow utilities to do this, innovative technology
is being developed that does.
Some of this new technology is already on the market. For example,
Aclara offers several technology-based solutions and pipeline safety
enhancements for natural gas transmission, storage, and distribution
companies. Aclara's technologies enable continuous remote monitoring
via infrared point sensing with automatic reads and near real-time
alarms, which allow utilities to proactively identify potential issue
areas in their network and significantly reduces the chances of a small
leak and/or disturbance turning into a catastrophic burn hole. The key
to this technology is a focus on early detection, which is the most
essential aspect of effective, proactive risk management and safety
practices. The technology is also very cost-effective, as it can be
easily fitted to existing AMI networks and the data it generates can be
transmitted by existing utility communications networks, thus
eliminating the high operational costs of data communication charges
with cellular modems or other cost intensive communication
technologies.
We urge Congress to encourage increased coordination with industry
and U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration on methane leak detection technology--
particularly in regards to deployment--and to support investment in
smart pipeline sensors and controls, internal pipeline inspection and
repair, and composite and advanced material science technologies. We
support the expanded use of gas pressure monitoring, both real time and
hourly, in distribution systems to improve system integrity and safety,
as further deployments of methane detection sensors closer to the
consumer would add to overall safety. We also urge Congress to consider
mandatory use of gas pressure monitoring, both real time and hourly, in
distribution systems to improve system integrity and safety.
We urge you to ensure that FY2022 appropriations, as well as any
potential infrastructure package put together during this congress,
includes funds for the advancement of technologies that will make our
electric, water and natural gas distribution networks smarter, safer,
and more efficient. Again, thank you for providing this opportunity to
submit testimony.
[This statement was submitted by Kumi Premathilake, Senior Vice
President,
Division Vice President, AMI and Services at Hubbell Utility
Solutions.]
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Prepared Statement of the American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union (AGU), a non-profit, non-partisan
scientific society, appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony
regarding the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations request for the
Department of Energy (DOE). AGU, on behalf of its community of 130,000
in the Earth and space sciences, respectfully requests that the 117th
Congress appropriate the following:
--$7.7 billion for DOE Office of Science
--$500 million for DOE Advanced Research Project Agency--Energy
department of energy
AGU requests that Congress appropriate $7.7 billion for DOE's
Office of Science, which represents a 9.6% increase over FY2021
spending levels. Additionally, we request $500 million for DOE's
Advanced Research Project Agency--Energy (ARPA-E), which is in line
with the bipartisan Energy Act of 2020. These funding levels will
ensure that DOE is able to continue its work to preserve U.S.
leadership in scientific discovery by developing new cutting-edge
technology, fostering innovation, and training the nation's future
scientific workforce.
office of science
As the primary funder of basic research in the physical sciences,
DOE's Office of Science is at the forefront of scientific discovery,
innovation, and the shaping of our nation's energy future. The Office
of Science oversees a breadth of programs and technical infrastructure
essential to the nation's economic growth, energy and national
security, future scientific and engineering talent, and the development
of innovative technologies.
The Office of Science is playing a crucial role in our nation's
fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only has it previously funded
mRNA research used to develop the vaccine, but it is harnessing its
supercomputing capabilities to advance our understanding of the
coronavirus and its spread and creating and distributing better
personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
Through competitive grants awarded to national laboratories, more
than 300 universities and colleges, and other organizations in all 50
states and the District of Columbia, the Office of Science fosters
collaboration between sectors that helps contribute to our nation's
strategic priorities.
DOE's Office of Science also supports more than 34,000 researchers-
including Ph.D. scientists, engineers, graduate students,
undergraduates, and technical and support personnel--who
collaboratively work on high-risk, high-reward research projects that
foster cutting-edge energy technologies. The Office of Science provides
essential resources and opportunities, including access to
sophisticated scientific capabilities, beyond those offered by industry
and academic institutions. The Office of Science has also been critical
in the creation of industrial breakthroughs and annually partners with
about fifty Fortune 500 companies as well as small businesses.
In addition, DOE's Office of Science supports exploration of both
the frontiers of science such as quantum science and technology,
artificial intelligence, and genomics and advances energy research such
as solar energy, bioenergy, and batteries that will be the bedrock of
the country's move to clean energy. With a 92% rate of timely
completion of projects within budget, researchers supported by the
Office of Science are making key advances in energy and safeguarding
our nation's security by leading us towards energy independence.
Sustained and robust federal investment in scientific research is
essential if the U.S. hope to remain globally competitive, especially
as other countries like China aggressively increase their investments
in scientific research. Moreover, as our nation recovers from the
pandemic, the opportunities provided by the Office of Science to
students, researchers and businesses are critical to help our country
regain our economic strength and advance our energy security. Overall,
the DOE Office of Science has been proven to be a smart investment now
and for the future.
advanced research project agency-energy
The Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) was
established to surmount the barriers posed to high-risk, long-term
energy technology development. In its short ten-year history, ARPA-E
has supported more than 1,000 projects, 177 of which have attracted
over $4.9 billion in private-sector follow-on funding, and 88 of which
have gone on to form new companies. Additionally, ARPA-E is making
significant contributions to advancing U.S. leadership in cutting edge
energy science and technology. ARPA-E projects have submitted more than
4,614 peer-reviewed journal articles and been issued 716 patents by the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ARPA-E has also shown itself to be a
responsible steward of taxpayer resources by ceasing funding for
projects that fail to meet milestones.
We are at a moment when other nations, especially China, Korea, and
Russia, are making significant investments into advanced energy
technologies and are poised to seize the economic and geopolitical
advantages afforded by technological supremacy in this field. With
global demand for energy projected to increase by almost 30% by 2040--
combined with the often decade long development cycles for energy
technologies--those nations making commitments to dominate this
economic opportunity today will be the ones to reap the rewards in the
years to come. The U.S. is exceptionally well positioned to capitalize
on key advantages, including the work of cutting-edge agencies such as
ARPA-E, but only if they are adequately funded.
Significantly, the transformative clean energy research and
development funded by ARPA-E is critical to our nation's efforts to
combat climate change. Additionally, ARPA-E 's investment in scaling up
transformative solar, geothermal, battery, biofuels and advanced
surface coating technologies has the potential to drastically alter our
clean energy landscape.
Overall, ARPA-E projects create jobs and innovation, enhance our
national energy security, and boost economic activity in communities
across the country. Continued and stable investment into this
transformative program is necessary to ensure its success and bolster
our nation's science and technology leadership.
[This statement was submitted by Brittany Webster, Program Manager,
Science Policy & Government Relations.]
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Prepared Statement of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium
request summary
On behalf of the nation's Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)
that collectively are the American Indian Higher Education Consortium
(AIHEC), we thank you for this opportunity to share our recommendations
regarding the Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security
Administration's (NNSA) Minority Serving Institutions Partnership
Program (MSIPP).
Department of Energy (DOE): National Nuclear Security
Administration--Minority Serving Institutions' Partnership Program--
Tribal Education Partnership Program (NNSA-MSIPP-TEPP): TCUs urge the
Subcommittee to continue funding for the newly established Tribal
Education Partnership Program, a TCU-specific sub-program within the
NNSA-MSIP, at $5,000,000 for FY2022. With funding from NNSA-MSIPP, the
TCU Advanced Manufacturing Network Initiative (TCU AMNI) was created
with a pilot cohort of five TCUs in collaboration with AIHEC. Since
2015, each of the participating TCUs has established a basic advanced
manufacturing facility that offers training and education programs with
support from NNSA National Laboratory partners. TCUs are uniquely
positioned to catalyze economic transformation in Indian Country,
because they have the capacity to train a specialized workforce and
develop critical research and development partnerships with NNSA
National Laboratories as well as major national companies such as
Boeing Company and Ford Motor Company.
The TCU AMNI program provides an important partnership model for
the Department of Energy and the nation's TCUs. The program creates a
career pipeline for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students,
beginning with the development of technical skills required to operate
advanced manufacturing systems, which are coming to dominate the global
manufacturing sector. Students completing technical training at TCUs
are also prepared to pursue engineering programs, which are in demand
at all stages of manufacturing. The TCU AMNI program contributes to the
growth of a well-trained Native workforce: technicians, engineers,
designers, and entrepreneurs. Through this initiative, TCUs are in a
strong position to help tribes develop advanced manufacturing
enterprises, which, in turn, generate significant economic activity and
create high-skilled jobs for their young people. These efforts will
contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty that has plagued tribal
communities for generations.
TCU efforts in advanced manufacturing have direct economic impacts
on tribes and have even proven impactful in the field of public health.
During the current coronavirus pandemic, the Bay Mills Indian Community
Chairman asked Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) to produce personal
protective equipment (PPE) for the tribally operated Bay Mills Health
Center and nearby War Memorial Hospital in the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan. BMCC collaborated with Lake Superior State University and the
local school district to 3-D print face mask headgear using a design
developed by BMCC. BMCC also 3-D printed venturi valves, a component of
medical ventilators, which were also in short supply, for War Memorial
Hospital. BMCC worked with the other four ANMI TCUs to produce 3-D
printed PPEs and other needed medical equipment for their local tribal
health services providers and the Indian Health Service.
MSIPP TCU Report Language Needed for Funding
TCU AMNI represents a model for a partnership between the DOE and
the nation's 37 TCUs that can help address the need for a more diverse
STEM workforce within the NNSA National Laboratory system while
promoting economic growth in Tribal communities. Historically, the
competitive MSIPP grant program lacked distinct support for TCUs and
Tribal communities. In the FY2020 DOE budget, $5 million was explicitly
provided for a separate TCU program; however, a program was not
initially established. Instead, the funds were added to the
competitively awarded MSIPP grant program broadly available to
Historically Black College and Universities and other Minority Serving
Institutions. In conducting the FY2020 MSIPP grant competition, NNSA
did not include provisions specifically for TCUs, nor was an outreach
strategy implemented to solicit TCU grant applications to ensure that
TCUs would receive the $5 million in Congressionally directed funding.
Due to the lack of outreach by NNSA, few TCUs submitted proposals.
After extensive feedback from AIHEC, NNSA released a new TCU-specific
sub-grant program under MSIPP entitled: Tribal Education Partnership
Program. While NNSA eventually took steps to administer Congressionally
directed TCU funding, we respectfully request that report language and
funding be included to ensure continuity in the newly established
Tribal Education Partnership Program.
Success of the TCU Advanced Manufacturing Network Initiative
The TCU AMPI is creating very promising and exciting projects on
five TCU campuses. Below are summaries from the five participating
TCUs.
Navajo Technical University--Crownpoint, NM
The Center for Digital Technology at Navajo Technical University
(NTU) in Crownpoint, NM has established an advanced manufacturing
program with a state-of-the-art facility including metal 3-D printers,
computer numerical control (CNC) machines and high-tech inspection, and
validation instrumentation. Students at NTU are developing knowledge
and skills in design engineering, manufacturing processes, and
performance analysis. The Navajo Nation is making a significant
investment in this program and has recruited major industry partners
for manufacturing contracts resulting in employment for NTU graduates.
This program provides a model for how TCUs and Tribes can join the
global manufacturing supply chain ecosystem, generate significant
economic activity, and train students to join the technology and
engineering workforce.
Bay Mills Community College--Brimley, MI
Bay Mills Community College (BMCC), located in the Upper Peninsula
of Michigan, operates the Great Lakes Composites Institute, a wholly
owned subsidiary of the college that functions as a Tier II/Tier III
manufacturing supplier. It has established a technical leadership
position as a supplier of composite materials and products focusing on
thermoplastic fiber reinforced polymeric innovations and next-
generation thermoplastic fiber-reinforced products. Industry partners
include the Army Tank Research, Development, and Engineering Center
(TARDEC), Ford Motor Company, and the Chrysler Corporation.
Cankdeska Cikana Community College--Fort Totten, ND
Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC), located in rural North
Dakota, has developed an advanced manufacturing certificate program
that builds on an existing engineering program partnership with North
Dakota State University. CCCC is partnering with the University Centers
for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) on the design of environmental
monitoring systems specifically to support local Tribal resource
management requirements.
Salish Kootenai College--Pablo, MT
Salish Kootenai College (SKC) has established an Advanced
Manufacturing Prototyping Lab (AMPL) used for both lab courses and open
hours for students interested in exploring additive manufacturing
projects, following the FabLab model. SKC faculty are implementing an
underwater drone project, similar to that at CCCC, focusing on drones
capable of carrying instrumentation needed to monitor hydrology,
biology, and lake sedimentology of Flathead Lake, the largest
freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River.
Turtle Mountain Community College--Belcourt, ND
Turtle Mountain Community College (TMCC), located 10 miles from the
Canada-U.S. border, is expanding their partnership with North Dakota
State University. The partnership was developed through a collaborative
engineering program in which students complete their first two years of
engineering at TMCC and continue on to complete their degree at NDSU.
The engineering program integrates the college's advanced manufacturing
program, providing students the opportunity to carry out engineering
design projects and research using the college's advanced manufacturing
facility.
conclusion
Struggling economies are endemic in Indian Country. We ask that
Congress join us in bringing Tribal nations into the evolving global
manufacturing community; transforming Tribal economies while addressing
national energy technology challenges. TCUs provide quality higher
education opportunities to thousands of AI/ANs and other rural
residents, as well as essential community programs and services to
those who might otherwise not have access to such possibilities. The
modest federal investment in TCUs have paid great dividends in terms of
employment, education, and economic development. We greatly appreciate
your previous and your continued support of the nation's Tribal
Colleges and Universities and your careful consideration of our FY2022
appropriations requests.
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Prepared Statement of the American Society for Microbiology
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science is a leader in
advancing critical industries of the future, including quantum
information science, artificial intelligence, high performance
computing, advanced communications networks, future energy
technologies, and engineering biology. As we rise to meet the
challenges of the 21st Century, microbial science funded by the
DOE Office of Science remains vitally important. ASM urges Congress
to fund the DOE Office of Science at $7.7 billion in fiscal year (FY)
2022, an increase of 9.6% over FY2021. ASM also encourages Congress to
continue to fully fund the Bioenergy Research Centers at $100 million,
and the National Microbiome Database Collaborative (NMDC) at $10
million in FY2022.
The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) appreciates the
opportunity to submit outside witness testimony for the Fiscal Year
2022 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies appropriations
bill in support of increased funding for the Department of Energy
Office of Science. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is one
of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences
and is composed of 30,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's
mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.
Funding from the DOE Office of Science through the National
Laboratories, universities, and other programs has generated some of
our most economically important innovations and is the primary driver
of basic research in the physical sciences, as well as critical areas
of genome scale, quantitative analysis of microbial research. This
support has enabled researchers to use microbes to solve energy and
environmental problems, and to bring those solutions to scale by
developing empirical, computational, and mechanistic modeling tools.
Office of Science funding led to the creation of the Bioenergy Research
Centers, which support research into viable and sustainable domestic
biofuel and bioproducts industries. Each of the four Centers is led by
a DOE national laboratory or university, and each take an innovative
approach to improving and scaling up advanced biofuel and bioproduct
production processes. Recent investments in the National Microbiome
Data Collaborative, an open-source database, will lead to more
effective analysis of microbiome data and better coordination of
multidisciplinary microbiome research across the federal government. In
addition, DOE National Laboratories were effectively deployed in the
fight against COVID-19, using their supercomputing and modeling
capabilities to both understand components of the virus and to find
drug compounds to treat it.
microbial research is needed to face 21st century challenges
Our society faces several large, complex, and interconnected
challenges, many of which can be addressed through microbial research.
Inexpensive renewable sources of energy, fuels, and chemicals are
essential for continued economic growth, but the environmental
tradeoffs of increased energy production must also be considered.
Microbial science funded by DOE Office of Science can lead the way in
developing sustainable strategies to feed an ever-growing population by
increasing plant and agricultural productivity and quality; by
providing strategies to ensure that future US citizens enjoy clean air,
water, and a high standard of living; in transforming human health by
providing everything from new pharmaceuticals, reagents for precision
medicine, and next generation antibiotics; and by producing cost-
competitive fuels, chemicals, and materials from abundant renewable
resources. These and other advances in decarbonization, the production
of biomaterials or bio-based polymers, and others based on new
microbial catalysts will only happen with strong, stable investments in
the Office of Science.
Discoveries in targeted areas such as quantum science and
technology, genomics, microelectronics, and machine learning have
potential far-reaching impacts that spawn the creation of new
industries. For example, DOE has also taken the lead on bio-based
energy, fuel and chemicals innovation. The Office of Science currently
funds four Bioenergy Research Centers (BRC), which support research
into viable and sustainable domestic biofuel and bioproducts
industries. These four Centers are developing viable and sustainable
domestic biofuels and bioproducts derived from non-food plant biomass,
such as poplar, switchgrass, and sorghum. This research will lead to
lower greenhouse gas emissions, bring jobs to rural areas, and boost
our energy security, and we strongly encourage Congress to continue
fully funding the BRCs at $100 million in FY2022.
doe-funded microbiome research spawns innovation
In its stewardship of innovation at DOE's National Laboratories,
universities, and other programs, the Office of Science is a critical
partner in advancing areas of national need, supporting research in key
emerging areas including artificial intelligence and microbiome
research. Thousands of projects funded by NIH and NSF utilize DOE
facilities each year, and more than fifty Fortune 500 companies and
many small businesses use these facilities to conduct the underlying
research required to develop new technologies and products that drive
the economy, including the growing bioeconomy.
Microbiome science aims to advance understanding of microbial
communities (microbiomes) for applications in areas such as health
care, food production, and environmental restoration to benefit
individuals, communities, and the environment. Understanding of the
microbiome has evolved significantly since the concept of the human
microbiome emerged roughly two decades ago. Today it is understood that
microbial communities exist on, in, and around people, plants, animals,
soil, oceans, and the atmosphere, making the microbiome relevant to all
living things. The rapid pace of discovery has led to greater
technology needs and data sharing infrastructure.
The Interagency Strategic Plan for Microbiome Research, FY2018-
2022, developed by the Microbiome Interagency Working Group (MIWG),
provides recommendations for improving coordination of microbiome
research among Federal agencies and between agencies and nonFederal
domestic and international microbiome research efforts. The five-year
Strategic Plan coordinates microbiome research activities across 21
government agencies, describing the interagency objectives, structure
and operating principles, and research focus areas and provided three
recommended areas to transform microbiome discoveries to solutions:
1. Supporting interdisciplinary and collaborative research to
enable a predictive understanding of the function of microbiomes in
diverse ecosystems to enhance public health, food, and environmental
security and grow new bioeconomy product areas.
2. Developing platform technologies to generate critical insights
and to improve access to and sharing of microbiome data across
ecosystems.
3. Expanding the microbiome workforce through educational
opportunities, citizen science, and public engagement.
Recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies have increased our
awareness of the complexity and diversity in networks of
microorganisms. Yet there remains much to discover regarding how
microbiomes function as communities, interact with their hosts and
environment, and how they can be leveraged to improve health and
ecosystems. As noted in the Interagency
Strategic Plan for Microbiome Research, microbiome data is ``Big
Data'', which requires consistent and reliable database and resource
coordination to facilitate data collection, analysis, interoperability,
and data sharing. The NMDC is aimed at empowering this type of
microbiome research. Spearheaded by Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, in partnership with Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Pacific
Northwest national laboratories, the NMDC is leveraging DOE's existing
data-science resources and high-performance computing systems to
develop a framework that facilitates more efficient use of microbiome
data for applications in energy, environment, health, and agriculture.
In support of these ongoing efforts, ASM requests continued funding of
$10 million for the National Microbiome Database Collaborative (NMDC)
for FY2022.
Our nation's ability to make significant advances in solving energy
and environmental problems depends on advances in the microbial
sciences. This will only be possible if Congress continues its
commitment to robust and sustained funding increases for the Department
of Energy's Office of Science.
[This statement was submitted by Allen Segal, Director of Public
Policy and
Advocacy, American Society for Microbiology.]
______
Prepared Statement of the American Society of Plant Biologists
On behalf of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), we
submit this written testimony to support $7.7 billion for the
Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science in fiscal year (FY)
2022. Within this amount, ASPB supports proportional increases in
funding for the Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the Office of
Biological and Environmental Research. ASPB also supports at least $500
million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in FY
2022. ARPA-E has proven to be an innovative and valuable program that
advances high-impact energy technologies, including biotechnology,
imaging, carbon capture, and sustainable crop systems that are
important to the plant science community and to the nation.
The following testimony highlights the importance of biology-
particularly plant biology, which is a necessary backbone of efforts to
enhance bioenergy production-as the nation seeks to address energy
security and other vital issues. We thank the Subcommittee for its
consideration of this testimony and for its support for the basic
research mission of the DOE Office of Science. ASPB recognizes the
difficult fiscal environment our nation faces but believes investments
in scientific research will be a critical step toward economic
recovery.
ASPB, founded in 1924 as the American Society of Plant
Physiologists, was established to promote the growth and development of
plant biology, to encourage and publish research in plant biology, and
to promote the interests and professional advancement of plant
scientists in general. ASPB members educate, mentor, advise, and
nurture future generations of plant biologists; they work to increase
understanding of plant biology, as well as science in general, in K-16
schools and among the general public; they advocate in support of plant
biology research; they work to convey the relevance and importance of
plant biology; and they provide expertise in policy decisions world-
wide. Overall, ASPB members, as representatives of the society, work to
disseminate information and excitement about plant sciences, especially
through ASPB's advocacy, outreach activities, conferences, and
publications.
fuel, food, environment, and health: plant biology research and
america's future
Plants are vital to our very existence. They harvest sunlight,
converting it to chemical energy for food and feed; they take up carbon
dioxide and produce oxygen; and they are essential to life on Earth.
Indeed, plant biology research is making many fundamental contributions
in the areas of domestic fuel security and environmental stewardship;
the continued and sustainable development of better fuels, foods,
fabrics, pharmaceuticals, and building materials; and in the
understanding of basic biological principles that underpin improvements
in plant growth and home-grown energy sources for all Americans.
In particular, plant biology is at the center of numerous
scientific breakthroughs in the increasingly interdisciplinary world of
alternative energy research. For example, researchers at National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) just published research that
demonstrates the ability to convert wet waste carbon (food waste
derived from fatty acids) to sustainable aviation fuels-highlighting
the potential to simultaneously and synergistically address aviation
needs and environmental challenges. Similarly, with the increase in
plant genome sequencing and functional genomics, the interface of plant
biology and computer science has become essential to our understanding
of complex biological systems, ranging from single cells to entire
ecosystems. This research is critical for our future bioenergy
production.
Despite the fact that foundational and mission-oriented plant
biology research-the kind of research DOE funds-underpins vital
advances in practical applications in energy, health, and the
environment, plant scientists have had to maximize and leverage modest
federal funding to understand the basic function and mechanisms of
plants. Sustained strong investments in plant biology research are
important considering the significant positive impact crop plants have
on the nation's economy and in addressing some of our most urgent
challenges, like energy and food security. For example, continued basic
and applied research in fields like synthetic biology will enable the
creation and production of more energy dense, carbon neutral fuels and
expand the production of energy-efficient biomass.\1\
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\1\ https://roadmap.ebrc.org/energy/.
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Nearly 10 years ago, ASPB organized a two-phase Plant Science
Research Summit with support and funding from DOE, the National Science
Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute. The Summit brought together representatives from
across the full spectrum of plant science research to develop a
research agenda and resulted in a report-Unleashing a Decade of
Innovation in Plant Science: A Vision for 2015-2025.\2\ This vision has
helped guide our community towards significant gains in foundational
and applied plant science. Importantly, novel crop varieties and
precision agriculture technologies are producing more food per acre
with less exogenous inputs. However, as climate change continues to
threaten our agriculture systems, the work of the plant science
research community is more pressing than ever. Additional significant
progress is possible, but will require a bold commitment of resources
from the federal government. As a research community, our continued
vision is to create plant systems that are flexible and adaptable to
both new and existing challenges by increasing the predictive and
synthetic abilities of plant biology. In achieving these goals, the
plant science research community will make significant contributions
to:
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\2\ plantsummit.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/
plantsciencedecadalvision10-18-13.pdf.
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--Exploring, conserving, and utilizing our natural resources;
--Protecting, maintaining, and improving energy crop productivity;
--Creating new plant-inspired bioproducts, companies, and industries;
and
--Reducing the environmental impact and energy footprint of
agriculture.
securing the plant science talent pipeline
As discussed above, many of the challenges that come with our
changing world must be addressed specifically by plant scientists. A
significant--but sustainable--increase in crop productivity will be
needed to match the demand for food expected from the rate of
population growth. At the same time, climate change will present new
trials for crops and other plant ecosystems. These challenges will
require efforts to increase productivity beyond current practices,
including improvement in crop water use efficiency and enhanced crop
photosynthesis efficiency and performance, to name just a few
approaches. More knowledge and innovation will be needed to replace
chemicals from non-renewable sources (from fuels to biomedical
applications) with plant-derived metabolites. These types of
innovations will require contributions from basic and applied plant
science fields and collaboration with other sciences, computation, and
engineering.
To tackle these challenges, a strong and diverse community of plant
scientists, with increased involvement from women and marginalized
scientists, will be needed. However, the current training pipeline does
not appear prepared to ensure the availability of this workforce.
Overall, the number of Ph.D. degrees awarded in the US in biomedical
sciences in the last two decades has increased at an unsustainable
rate, even triggering warnings from members of the National Academy of
Sciences; however, this trend has not been paralleled by increases in
plant-related Ph.D. degrees. In fact, plant science doctoral degrees,
both basic and agronomy-related, have remained stagnant during this
time period. Clearly, a strong investment in plant science research,
both basic and applied, renewed efforts to transform public perceptions
of plant biology and plant biologists, and a push to increase the
number of students entering the pipeline leading to plant science
degrees are necessary to change these trends. Developing the workforce
that will contribute the solutions to future challenges is urgent.
With this need in mind, ASPB applauds the awards DOE has made in
training the next generation of scientists. Most recently, DOE has
invested $20 million at the Oak Ridge Institute with the goal of
training 150 Ph.D.s in energy related fields in the next five years.
More investments like this, including outreach to women and individuals
in marginalized groups, is vital for the US to maintain its energy
leadership.
doe recommendations
Because the ASPB membership has extensive expertise and
participation in the academic, industry, and government research
sectors, ASPB is in an excellent position to articulate the nation's
plant science priorities as they relate to fundamental plant biology
and, specifically, with regard to recommendations for bioenergy
research funding through DOE's Office of Science.
Within the Office of Science, the programs in Biological and
Environmental Research (BER) and Basic Energy Sciences (BES) are
crucial to understanding how basic biological processes operate.
Sustained funding for these programs is vital, because the discoveries
made in these areas will ultimately be the foundation for the next
fuels and technologies we use in our daily lives.
Support from ARPA-E is critical to advancing plant synthetic
biology technologies, and ASPB implores the committee to include
sustained, targeted funding for synthetic biology research in the
program.
In addition:
--We commend the DOE Office of Science, through its programs in BES
and BER, for having funded the Bioenergy Research Centers and
the Energy Frontier Research Centers. These centers provide a
model for collective science innovation that complements DOE's
essential investment in individual investigator and small group
science. ASPB strongly encourages additional funding for the
DOE Office of Science that would specifically target funding at
individual and small-group grants for bioenergy and plant
growth research.
--Considerable research interest is now focused on the processing of
plant biomass for energy production. Fundamental discoveries of
the genes that control plant growth and enable plant growth in
response to stresses, including drought, are needed to secure
our energy future. If biomass crops, including woody plants,
are to be used to their full potential, extensive effort must
be expended to improve our understanding of their basic biology
and development, as well as their agronomic performance and
conversion efficiency in processing to fuels and high-value co-
products. Therefore, ASPB calls for DOE to support research
targeted at efforts to increase the utility and agronomic
performance of bioenergy feedstocks, both in the field and for
their end users in the bioeconomy.
Thank you for your consideration of our testimony on behalf of the
American Society of Plant Biologists. For more information about the
American Society of Plant Biologists, please see www.aspb.org.
______
Prepared Statement of the Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply
System and Dry Prairie Rural Water System
fiscal year 2022 budget request
The Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply System and Dry Prairie
Rural Water System respectfully request FY 2022 appropriations of
$17.760 million, part of the Bureau of Reclamation Rural Water Program
(Table 1).
The FY 2022 federal funding request is $7.021 million for the
Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply System (ASRWSS) and $10.739
million for the Dry Prairie Rural Water System (DPRWS) to fully
complete project construction. The combined request leaves a projected
appropriation of $548,000 in FY 2023 to account for final indexing and
any adjustments for non-federal cost shares or other.
The project expresses the greatest appreciation to the Chairman and
Subcommittee for its unwavering support during the construction of this
vital infrastructure in a vast area of Montana.
FY 2022 funds will be used to construct all remaining important
elements of the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System, Montana, (PL
106-382, October 27, 2000). The request is within the capability to
spend funds in FY 2022. Design, cultural resource surveys, wetland
surveys, and easements related to all proposed project features will be
completed by the ASRWSS and Dry Prairie and approved by Reclamation in
advance of the use of FY 2022 funds. Those activities are already
underway on most FY 2022 projects.
project status and funding needs
As shown in Table 2, the overall project will be 94% complete at
the end of FY 2021. ASRWSS will be 97% complete, and DPRWS will be 89%
complete. ASRWSS has built the regional intake, water treatment plant
and all main transmission interconnections that serve both ASRWSS and
Dry Prairie.
Construction funds remaining to be spent after FY 2021 total
$17.759 million within the current authorization, including a projected
federal overrun on Dry Prairie of $4.285 million (in October 2020
dollars). FY 2022 appropriations at the level requested will leave a
projected need for $548,000 in FY 2023 to adjust for inflation at the
rate experienced over the last 5 years (3.72%), for final adjustment of
non-federal cost shares and for other adjustments necessary to complete
the project.
The ASRWSS project features to complete its Reservation portion of
project are currently under budget by $726,000. The ASRWSS portion of
the project can be completed if appropriations cited above are
available in FY 2022. The funds currently under budget will be spent on
beneficial and federally approvable projects within the authorized
construction ceiling.
Congress has authorized three amendments of PL 106-382 to extend
the project completion most recently to December 31, 2026. The project
funding will be completed in FY 2022 unless there are significant
reductions in appropriations for the rural water program in FY 2022.
project history
The project has reached 94% completion over a period of 20 years
(averaging about 4.7% completion annually). Continued Congressional
support is needed for the Reclamation Rural Water Program to complete
our currently authorized project funding in FY 2022. Fixed annual
overhead costs have reduced funding that can be allocation to
construction of project features because the project was required to
build over twice the number of years anticipated at authorization.
Despite the additional overhead costs, the project will be completed
within budget, subject to a current federal project cost overrun on Dry
Prairie of $4.285 million that resulted unexpectedly due to lower
indexing in FY 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The expected indexing
based on historic trends was not enough to cover actual increases in
unit prices for construction. Dry Prairie is working with Reclamation
to reduce the overrun.
ASRWSS and DPRWS have worked extremely well and closely with the
Bureau of Reclamation since the authorization of the project in FY
2000. The Commissioner, Regional, and Area Offices of the Bureau of
Reclamation have been consistently in agreement with the need, scope,
total costs, and the ability to pay analysis that supported the federal
and non-federal cost shares. There have been no areas of disagreement
or controversy in the formulation or implementation of the project.
______
Prepared Statement of Aurora Water
I am requesting your support for appropriations in the President's
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper
Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery
Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program.
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget for
these programs are described below.
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes:
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream
flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and
conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and
stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and
research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to
guide decision making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake
Powell.
I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Marshall Brown, General Manager,
Aurora Water.]
______
Prepared Statement of Aurora Water
I am requesting your support for appropriations in the President's
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper
Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery
Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program.
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget for
these programs are described below.
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream
flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and
conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and
stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and
research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to
guide decision making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake
Powell.
I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Marshall Brown, General Manager,
Aurora Water.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Building Performance Association,
E4TheFuture, and the Building Performance Institute
As leaders in the residential energy efficiency industry, the
Building Performance Association, E4TheFuture, and the Building
Performance Institute respectfully urge your support, through the
Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill,
to provide robust funding to advance programs at the Department of
Energy (DOE) that invest in residential energy efficiency and whole-
house initiatives. The President's FY 2022 budget request makes
significant investments in the Weatherization Assistance Program, State
Energy Program, and Building Technologies Office. For the many reasons
detailed below, we urge Congress to continue support for these programs
and work to ensure that sub accounts within the DOE Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy are robustly funded so that their
important work may continue and expand. On behalf of our stakeholders
and members, we thank you for this opportunity to express our support
for these important programs and initiatives that pay for themselves
many times over and are a wise and modest investment that help
Americans save money, improve energy security, and live and work in
safe and comfortable buildings.
The Building Performance Association (BPA) is a membership-driven
501(c)6 industry association dedicated to advancing the home and
building performance industry by delivering improved energy efficiency,
health, safety, and environmental performance of buildings through our
key stakeholders. With over 9,500 member companies operating in every
state, BPA supports home performance contractors, weatherization
agencies and training centers, product manufacturers and distributors,
program sponsors and implementers, building scientists, and non-profits
focused on residential and commercial energy efficiency.
E4TheFuture is non-profit 501c(3) organization which collaborates
with industry stakeholders to provide expert policy solutions,
education, and advocacy to advance residential clean energy and energy
efficiency solutions on the federal, state and local level.
The Building Performance Institute (BPI) is the nation's premier
building performance credentialing, quality assurance, and standards
setting organization. Approved by the American National Standards
Institute, Inc. (ANSI) as an accredited developer of American National
Standards and as a certifying body for personnel credentials, BPI
develops technical standards and professional certifications that help
raise the bar in home performance contracting.
BPA, E4TheFuture, and BPI offer their strong support for DOE's
residential efficiency programs and initiatives, as they are critical
to the continued growth of the energy efficiency industry across the
country. Public programs that support the energy efficiency industry
are vital as it continues to develop and, as evidenced by a grassroots
letter from U.S. taxpayers \1\ to House and Senate Energy and Water
Appropriations subcommittee leadership, there is tremendous public
support for these programs. The grassroots letter includes signatures
from over 1,160 U.S. taxpayers from 48 states plus the District of
Columbia.
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\1\ https://e4thefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FY22-
Appropriations-Sign-On.pdf.
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Energy efficiency equals jobs--it is the largest employer and
fastest growing sector in the energy industry. The 2020 ``Energy
Efficiency Jobs in America'' \2\ report from E4TheFuture found that the
energy efficiency industry employs nearly 2.4 million Americans and,
prior to the pandemic, was adding more jobs than any other energy
sector. Through 2019, the energy efficiency industry featured twice as
many workers as the entire U.S. fossil fuel industry and led the
nation's energy economy in new job creation. The industry was expected
to see another 3% growth in 2020. Instead, over 18% of the energy
efficiency workforce (430,000 workers) lost their jobs in the initial
months of the COVID-19 pandemic.\3\ While other sectors experienced
robust recoveries in the second half of 2020, energy efficiency did
not: In December 2020, over half of energy efficiency workers laid off
in the spring (230,000) were still out of work. A significant portion
of the energy efficiency jobs in the U.S. are in the residential
sector, and approximately 56 percent of energy efficiency jobs involve
construction and repairs. These are the contractors--the ``boots on the
ground''--installing energy efficiency products and technologies and
working to reduce energy waste in homes and buildings across the
country. These local, family-sustaining jobs exist all across the
country. In fact, 99.9% of U.S. counties have energy efficiency jobs
and nearly 400,000 of these jobs are in rural areas.\4\ Residential
energy efficiency jobs were hit particularly hard by the pandemic and
statewide lockdown orders. Supporting these jobs as part of our
nation's recovery will be critical.
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\2\ https://e4thefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/
EE_Jobs_America_2020.pdf.
\3\ https://e2.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Clean-Energy-Jobs-
December-COVID-19-Memo-Final-Revised.pdf.
\4\ https://e2.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/E2-2021-Clean-Jobs-
America-Report-04-19-2021.pdf.
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Dollar for dollar, investments in energy efficiency create more
jobs than investment in the utility sector or fossil-fuels,\5\ and
investments in DOE programs that support energy efficiency--like the
Building Technologies Office, Weatherization Assistance Program, and
State Energy Program--lead to job creation and economic growth. For
example, investment in weatherization creates direct jobs in sales and
installation and indirect jobs in equipment manufacturing and
distribution.
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\5\ ACEEE. N.d. Energy Efficiency and Economic Opportunity.
Retrieved from http://aceee.org/files/pdf/fact-sheet/ee-economic-
opportunity.pdf.
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In addition to economic and jobs benefits, residential energy
efficiency also plays a key role in public health. A DOE report on the
Weatherization Assistance Program \6\ found that home improvements
focused on energy efficiency can improve indoor air quality, which
reduces respiratory illness and sick days, and improves mental
alertness and productivity for both children and adults. Two additional
reports from 2016--E4TheFuture's ``Occupant Health Benefits of
Residential Energy Efficiency'' \7\ and the U.S. Department of Energy's
``HomeRx: The Health Benefits of Home Performance'' \8\--also found
that residential energy efficiency upgrades can help to address asthma
triggers and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD),
leading to reduced healthcare costs. Under the pandemic, these health
co-benefits from residential energy efficiency have grown even more
vital.
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\6\ https://energy.gov/eere/wipo/downloads/weatherization-
assistance-program-national-evaluation.
\7\ https://e4thefuture.org/occupant-health-benefits-of-
residential-energy-efficiency/.
\8\ https://energy.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/home-rx-health-
benefits-home-performance-review-current-evidence.
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Promoting building efficiency is also vital to achieving carbon
reduction goals. Buildings are responsible for 31% of all U.S.
greenhouse gas emissions,\9\ and are therefore critical to any
emissions reduction strategy. A recent report from ACEEE found that
energy efficiency alone can cut energy use and U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions in half by 2050, and buildings deliver 33% of the total
emissions reductions in the report's model.\10\ The residential
buildings sector in particular remains largely untapped. Residential
buildings account for 21% of total U.S. energy consumption,\11\ use
more electricity than any other sector,\12\ and are the largest
contributor to peak demand.\13\ Addressing this sector is essential
from a carbon emissions reduction standpoint.
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\9\ Total combined emissions from the residential and commercial
sectors with electricity-related emissions distributed. https://
www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-04/documents/us-ghg-inventory-
2019-main-text.pdf.
\10\ https://aceee.org/sites/default/files/publications/
researchreports/u1907.pdf.
\11\ https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/pdf/mer.pdf.
\12\ https://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/html/epa_01_02.html.
\13\ https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/04/f61/bto-
geb_overview-4.15.19.pdf.
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The below programs at the Department of Energy deserve the support
of the American taxpayer as these programs are proven to provide a
significant return on investment. When funded they will continue to
provide energy cost relief to households, support American-based
industry and American jobs, ameliorate issues with the aging electrical
grid, and support national security goals. We also urge additional
funding either through regular appropriations or supplemental funding
in the event an energy/infrastructure package is considered. In the
event that opportunity presents itself, we would urge:
1. Title VI of the House-passed, FY21 House Energy and Water
Development Appropriations Bill as a starting point to fund the State
Energy Program (SEP) ($730 million--$3.8 billion if adjusted for
inflation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA]) (for
base, formula funds), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) ($3.25
billion--$6.2 billion if adjusted for inflation from ARRA) ; and
2. the HOPE for HOMES program to advance workforce training and
residential retrofit rebates supported by the President's Budget
Request ($2 billion in FY22).
regular fy22 appropriations requests
$80 M for Residential Buildings Integration program within the
Building Technologies Office (BTO), which has the capacity to
fundamentally transform the performance of homes and greatly improve
the energy efficiency in the 115 million existing residential buildings
throughout this country. As mentioned above, residential buildings
account for 21% of total U.S. energy consumption, use more electricity
than any other sector, and are therefore an essential (albeit often
overlooked) part of the carbon reduction equation. RBI can
significantly improve the energy efficiency in the residential sector
through its partnerships with the thousands of small businesses in this
sector, the construction trades, equipment, smart grid technology and
systems suppliers, integrators and state and local governments. To
date, approximately 950,000 energy efficiency improvement projects have
been completed on existing homes through the Home Performance with
ENERGY STAR program. We recommend that this program receive a line item
in the budget for at least $80 million and that the funding be focused
on facilitating later-stage research, demonstration, and widespread
deployment of technology solutions in new and existing homes, with an
emphasis on whole-house energy efficiency retrofits (including
outreach, engagement and training to private sector contractors) and
continuing efforts to advance grid-interactive residential buildings
and smart home technology. We encourage the direct engagement with
residential contractors and businesses, which are crucial to the
success of buildings programs. The President's FY22 budget supports
increasing funding for this program to $72 million, but we respectfully
urge Congress to fund Residential Buildings Integration at no less than
$80 million.
$90 M for State Energy Program (SEP). We urge the Committee to
provide funding of at least $90 million for SEP, which provides funding
and technical assistance to states, territories, and the District of
Columbia to enhance energy security, advance state-led energy
initiatives, and maximize the benefits of decreasing energy waste. The
President's FY22 budget supports increasing funding for this program,
but we request that at least $90M of funding be used for direct formula
grants to the states. Over the past 30 years, SEP has proven to be the
critical link in helping states improve efficiency in hospitals and
schools, establish business incubators and job training programs, and
establish relationships with energy service companies and small
businesses to implement cost-effective energy efficiency programs
across their state. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) found that
every dollar invested in SEP by the federal government yields over $10
leveraged for energy-related economic development and realizes $7.22 in
energy cost savings for U.S. citizens and businesses--a tremendous
economic value. SEP provides extraordinary value and flexibility, which
is why governors across the country strongly support continued funding.
It is important to note that SEP defers to the governors all decisions
on allocating resources provided by DOE to meet their states'
priorities such as energy emergency planning and response and energy
related economic development.
$360 M for Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). We ask the
Committee to provide funding of at least $360 million for WAP, which
helps low-income and rural families, seniors, and individuals with
disabilities make lasting energy efficiency improvements to their
homes. WAP has a proven track record of creating new jobs and
contributing to the economy through the program's large supply chain of
vendors, suppliers, and manufacturers. Since 1976, WAP has helped make
more than 8 million homes more efficient, saving the average recipient
about $4,200 over the lifetime of their home. A peer-reviewed study
from ORNL found that the program is cost-effective at even conservative
levels of evaluation. Each dollar that goes toward weatherization
assistance yields at least $2.30 in benefits, and by some estimates as
much as $4.10 to the home and society. The President's FY22 budget
request proposes a significant increase to WAP, funding the program at
$390M. We respectfully ask the Committee to continue support for the
program in Fiscal Year 2022 in order to assist America's low- and
moderate-income citizens.
Aside from the very important programs noted above, BPA,
E4TheFuture, and BPI would like to request the Committee support the
U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) within the Department of
Energy. The annual USEER is an invaluable resource for both employers
and policymakers and, in this moment of economic turmoil, supporting
the report is particularly critical. Funding from DOE makes USEER
possible every year. Without future reports, the economic fallout from
the pandemic and its impacts on the energy sector nationwide will not
be fully recorded, depriving decisionmakers of crucial employment
information.
In addition, we respectfully ask the Committee to support existing
training programs that fund clean energy and energy efficiency jobs
within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
These EERE workforce development programs assist and support workers in
trades and activities required for the continued growth of the U.S.
energy efficiency and clean energy sectors. Seismic shifts in the
energy workforce caused by COVID-19 have underlined the continuing need
for these programs. We urge the Committee to support the USEER, funded
at $2 million in FY22, as well as these workforce development programs
within EERE.
In conclusion, BPA, E4TheFuture, and BPI offer their strong support
for DOE's residential efficiency programs and initiatives, as they are
critical to the continued advancement of the energy efficiency
industry, which contributes to the country's overall economic growth,
energy independence, and international competitiveness, and also
represents a significant and largely untapped resource for carbon
reduction. Public programs that support the energy efficiency industry
are vital as it continues to develop and there is tremendous public
support for these programs. The very small investments in the programs
discussed above pay for themselves many times over and are a wise and
modest investment that help Americans save money, improve energy
security, and live and work in safe and comfortable buildings. Again,
thank you for providing this opportunity to submit testimony. We look
forward to working with you.
[This statement was submitted by Steve Skodak, President & CEO,
Building Performance Association,Stephen Cowell, President,
E4TheFuture, and Larry Zarker, CEO, Building Performance Institute.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy
The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) urges Congress
to make clean energy and demand-side energy efficiency central to
infrastructure improvement measures enacted in the 117th Congress, with
a focus on resilience and improved public health and safety. A key
aspect of rebuilding our nation's infrastructure will be to enact
robust funding for clean energy programs managed by federal agencies,
in particular the Department of Energy, in the FY2022 Energy and Water
Development Appropriations bill. A document containing clean energy
industry funding requests for BCSE members in the renewable energy,
energy efficiency and natural gas sectors for the FY2022 Energy and
Water Appropriations Bill can be found here for your reference.
Federal investment in clean energy innovation has received
bipartisan support because Congress recognizes the United States of
America must lead the world in sustainable energy technologies to meet
the need for grid reliability and safety, while boosting economic
growth and reducing environmental impacts.
For these reasons, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy
urges Congress to continue to adequately fund Department of Energy
(DOE) clean energy programs for the offices of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE), Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FE),
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (EDER), Advanced Research
Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) and other essential DOE clean energy
programs. These federal research development and deployment funds can
be used to leverage business investment to accelerate deployment and
emissions reductions in all sectors of the economy.
The BCSE is a coalition of companies and trade associations from
the energy efficiency, energy storage, natural gas, renewable energy,
sustainable transportation and emerging decarbonization technology
sectors. It includes independent electric power producers, investor-
owned utilities, public utilities, equipment manufacturers, commercial
end users and service providers in energy and environmental markets.
Founded in 1992, the coalition's diverse business membership is united
around the revitalization of the U.S. economy and the creation of a
clean, secure and reliable energy future in America.
The BCSE is pleased to have an independent small- and medium-size
businesses initiative under its banner, the Clean Energy Business
Network (CEBN). Together, the BCSE and CEBN represent a broad range of
the clean energy economy, from Fortune 100 companies to small
businesses working in all 50 states and over 350 Congressional
districts. On a national basis, these industries support over 3 million
U.S. jobs.
The 2021 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook recently released
by the BCSE and BloombergNEF shows that despite major headwinds brought
about due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the transformation of how the U.S.
produces, delivers, and consumes hydrocarbons, electrons and heat
marched onward.
Congress has the opportunity to build on market conditions by
funding research, development and deployment across a broad portfolio
of technologies and industries, including energy efficiency and CHP,
hydropower and marine energy, geothermal energy, wind, solar, energy
storage, microgrids, carbon management and utilization, hydrogen,
critical minerals, sustainable transportation and others to meet the
need for grid reliability and safety, while boosting economic growth
and reducing environmental damage.
The Council welcomes the opportunity to share information from the
Factbook with you and we look forward to working with you throughout
the FY2022 budget cycle.
[This statement was submitted by Lisa Jacobson, President, Business
Council for Sustainable Energy.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Carbon Utilization Research Council
Summary of CURC FY 2022 Recommendation: The Carbon Utilization
Research Council (``CURC'') is an industry coalition focused on
technology solutions for the responsible use of our fossil energy
resources in a balanced, low carbon generation portfolio.\1\ CURC
recommends $1,388,250,000 for the CCUS & Power Systems Program, funded
by the Fossil Energy Research and Development (FE R&D) budget.
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\1\ For more information, please visit www.curc.net.
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Benefits of Investment in Carbon Management Technologies:
Deployment of carbon management technologies including carbon capture,
utilization, and storage (CCUS) will have emissions reductions
benefits, contribute to a growing economy, and play a critical role in
the ongoing energy transition. In addition to providing low-carbon,
dispatchable electricity to load follow intermittent renewables on the
electric grid, CCUS provides a mean to reduce emissions from hard-to-
decarbonize industrial processes including cement production and
steelmaking and can help to create low- and zero- carbon fuels
including hydrogen that have a wide variety of applications to
decarbonize transportation, hard-to-abate industries, and provide long
term, seasonal storage for the grid. International climate authorities
like the International Energy Agency have determined that reaching
economywide net-zero emissions in any scenario is ``virtually
impossible'' without CCUS.
Federal investment in CCUS RD&D will also substantially benefit
U.S. economic competitiveness, as the technology will allow us to
maintain existing jobs and expertise in incumbent industries in
addition to creating new, high-wage jobs in the energy and
manufacturing sectors.
CURC-EPRI Roadmap:
CURC and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) continuously
evaluate technology needs that reflect changing markets and policies
that impact fossil fuel use in the electric sector, which are
communicated through an Advanced Technology Roadmap. The Roadmap
identifies a suite of CCUS technologies that, if implemented, can
deliver low carbon emission, fossil-fueled power plants between 2025-
2035 that are cost-competitive with other sources of electricity.
Several technologies identified in the Roadmap are readying for large-
scale pilot testing while others are preparing for commercial
demonstration. It is critical that a program is implemented to
successfully commercialize these technologies to successfully meet any
proposed net-zero objectives. This means annual federal budgets must
increase to support the scale-up effort.
Federal Support of RD&D:
The U.S. has been a leader in the development of fossil energy
technology with the support of the DOE's world class CCUS RD&D
programs. In 2020, Congress recognized the need for expedited
development and deployment of these technologies through the enactment
of P.L. 116-260, which authorized approximately $6.7 billion over five
years for carbon management RD&D. These authorizations are in alignment
with the recommendations of the CURC-EPRI Roadmap and will allow DOE to
continue to make substantial progress in the development and
commercialization of CCUS technologies for applications across sectors,
including electric power.
ccus & power systems program fiscal year 2022 specific budget
recommendations
CURC recommends full funding of the authorization levels for Carbon
Management activities included in P.L. 116-260. However, CURC has
several overarching comments regarding FY 2022 funding for the CCUS and
Power Systems Program:
1. Any additional funding provided by Committee for new program
activities should not come at the expense of existing initiatives, for
which the Department has already made substantial progress to
commercialize technologies.
2. Funding for selected projects under the Coal FIRST Initiative
should be provided to construct project facilities, as each project is
intended to demonstrate technologies that will result in net-zero
carbon electricity and hydrogen production and are in line with the
objectives of this Administration.
3. Continued funding should be directed to the Department to
retrofit existing coal- and natural gas-fired electric power
facilities, which will be critical to achieve the Administration's
electric sector decarbonization objectives.
4. Substantial investment is needed to enable large-scale carbon
storage, which underpins the entire value proposition of electric power
and industrial sector carbon capture as well as negative emissions
carbon capture technologies.
Carbon Capture Commercialization:
CURC recommends $500M. CURC recommends funding for the Department
to initiate a Carbon Capture Commercialization Program consistent with
commercial demonstration objectives authorized in PL 116-260 and
recommends that expanded funding for the Department be used to fund
commercial-scale applications of carbon capture technologies for coal,
natural gas, and industrial applications.
Carbon Capture:
CURC recommends $205M. Consistent with the objectives of P.L. 116-
260, CURC's recommendation includes funding to support research,
development, large-scale pilot projects, and carbon capture test
centers for a variety of transformational carbon capture technologies
to improve the efficiency and lower the cost of carbon capture in both
power and industrial sector applications. Funding for carbon capture
should also be applied to new transformational technologies that are
part of the DOE's Advanced Energy Systems program (addressed below), as
intended by the carbon capture program authorization in the Energy Act
of 2020, as those technologies inherently include carbon capture as
part of the overall process. CURC supports efforts to evaluate
industrial carbon capture and negative emissions technologies, but not
at the expense of critical existing R&D for post- and pre-combustion
capture technologies. CURC recommends full funding for the National
Carbon Capture Center (NCCC), which is a critical path for testing and
scaling up new technologies.
Front-End Engineering and Design:
CURC recommends $50M for a front-end engineering and design (FEED)
program on coal, natural gas, and industrial applications of carbon
capture technologies, consistent with objectives authorized in P.L.
116-260, which will provide technical and economic data necessary to
accelerate CCUS project deployment. Funds within this appropriation
should also be utilized to conduct FEED studies of carbon dioxide
storage complexes that may be part of the carbon capture projects
selected for a DOE award.
Carbon Storage:
CURC recommends $200M. CURC supports the authorized funding levels
for Carbon Storage activities included in P.L. 116-260. CURC notes that
direct air capture and other negative emissions technologies will also
be dependent on a robust carbon storage industry and recommends a more
robust program as follows:
--Storage Infrastructure: CURC--$180M.
--Regional Initiatives: CURC--$30M to diversify the Regional
Initiatives' efforts, which were spun out of the Regional
Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs). The Regional
Initiatives develop the geologic framework and
infrastructure necessary to validate and deploy carbon
storage, including the assessment of locations for
CarbonSAFE or other commercial-scale carbon storage
projects.
--CarbonSAFE: CURC--$150M to fully fund CarbonSAFE Phase III
projects selected in fiscal year 2020 through to Phase IV
and, with remaining funds, solicit proposals for additional
CarbonSAFE projects. CarbonSAFE Phase III effort will seek
permits, continue to integrate efforts with regional
sources of CO2, demonstrate technical viability
of storage sites and support development of the
qualification processes necessary for a site to begin to
commercially accept CO2.
--CCUS Storage R&D: CURC--$20M. CURC recommends continued focus on
R&D at all TRL levels to address technical gaps to improve
reliability of CCUS storage, including continued
characterization of potential storage opportunities, monitoring
and modeling technologies, risk assessment and mitigation tools
should be supported.
Carbon Utilization:
CURC recommends $55.25M. CURC recommends funding for Carbon
Utilization RD&D activities consistent with P.L. 116-260.
Advanced Energy Systems:
CURC recommends $273M. P.L. 116-260 includes authorizing language
for R&D and large-scale pilot projects for a variety of
transformational carbon management technologies, including those
covered by the Advanced Energy Systems program that inherently include
carbon capture as part of their system process. CURC recommends funding
for specific subprograms as follows:
--Advanced Gasification Systems: $20M. CURC recommends continued
focus on research for low cost, modular gasification
technologies that will increase efficiency and lower capital
costs for coal and biomass to hydrogen or power applications,
as well as research to support a broad range of R&D.
--Advanced Turbines: $50M. CURC recommends funding to undertake R&D
to improve the efficiency of gas turbines, to utilize 100%
hydrogen as well as hydrogen-natural gas blends as well as
ammonia and ammonia-hydrogen blends, and to test and validate
components and their performance as an integrated system.
--Fuel Cells: $40M. CURC recommends funding for the development of
next generation fuel cell technologies to produce both power
and hydrogen from fossil fuels.
--Advanced Combustion Systems: $68M. CURC recommends funding to
advance novel energy conversion technologies, including
chemical looping ($11M), pressurized oxycombustion ($29M), and
supercritical CO2 systems ($38M) for bench-scale work as well
as to advance promising technologies to pilot-scale testing.
Supercritical CO2 Technology (STEP):
CURC recommends $20M. CURC recommends efforts, consistent with the
original scope of work, to complete the necessary design and
construction of the 10-MW pilot and to conduct the necessary testing
for the facility. CURC also recommends funds for competitively awarded
research and development activities, coordinated with the Offices of
Nuclear Energy (NE) and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE),
to advance the use of supercritical power cycles.
Transformational Coal Pilot Plant Program:
CURC recommends $10M, consistent with FY 2021 appropriations, to
continue funding Phase III projects selected in FY 2021.
Cross Cutting R&D Program:
CURC recommends $75M. CURC's recommendations for Cross Cutting R&D
include:
--Sensors and Controls: $8M to improve monitoring of systems and
apply solutions to mitigate stress on fossil systems that
increasingly operate under cycling load conditions.
--Extreme Environmental Materials: $16M. CURC recommends $8M to
support high temperature and pressure component testing under
real operating conditions, a project underway between DOE and
industry; and $8M for the A-USC Materials Consortium.
--Water Management R&D: $15M for thermoelectric applications of water
use and reuse, reduced water withdrawals, clean-up of water
discharge, and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technologies.
--Computational Science: $11M.
--Advanced Energy Storage Initiative: $5M. CURC supports funding for
thermal, mechanical, and chemical storage systems that can be
integrated with fossil power systems.
--University Training and Research: $4M to develop the next
generation workforce for the fossil energy generation industry
which is experiencing a very large generation gap.
Other Initiatives Within Fossil Energy Research and Development:
Outside of the CCUS and Power Systems Program, CURC provides the
following recommendations within the broader FE R&D portfolio:
--Natural Gas Utilization: $40M. CURC recommends the establishment of
a new research and development initiative within the Natural
Gas Technologies office to effectively utilize natural gas for
decarbonization solutions. Within those funds, CURC recommends
$40,000,000 for sustainable fuels and chemicals research and
development focused on conversion of natural gas, natural gas
liquids and other gas streams to low-carbon products, including
chemicals and fuels such as ammonia and low carbon hydrogen.
Comprehensive planning approaches for transitioning segments of
the economy to hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels should be a
part of the program, including analysis of the infrastructure
required to store and transport these fuels. CURC also supports
the establishment of a Center for Sustainable Fuels and
Chemicals at the National Energy Technology Lab and a funding
level of up to $15,000,000 for this initiative from within
available funds for sustainable fuels and chemicals research
and development.
--Hydrogen RD&D: $86M. CURC encourages the FE to expand hydrogen
research, development and demonstration activities that support
fossil fuel-derived hydrogen production equipped with CCUS
technologies that results in significantly reduced carbon
dioxide intensity. CURC encourages the Committee to recognize
the importance of low- and zero-carbon hydrogen production for
a variety of end uses and to support continued collaboration
with the EERE, OE, and NE.
[This statement was submitted by Shannon Angielski, Executive
Director, Carbon Utilization Research Council.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District
On behalf of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District
(CAWCD), I encourage you to include an allocation of $10.7 million for
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Salinity Control Basinwide Program for
the Colorado River Basin in the Fiscal Year 2022 Energy and Water
Development Appropriations bill. Continued funding for the Basinwide
Program, which supports salinity control projects, will help protect
the water quality of the Colorado River that is used by approximately
40 million people for municipal and industrial purposes and used to
irrigate approximately 4 million acres in the United States. CAWCD
further supports continued prioritization of funding for the Drought
Contingency Plan designed to reduce risks to the Colorado River basin
from ongoing drought.
CAWCD manages the Central Arizona Project, a multi-purpose water
resource development and management project that delivers Colorado
River water into central and southern Arizona. The largest supplier of
renewable water in Arizona, CAP delivers an average of over 1.5 million
acre-feet of Arizona's 2.8 million acre-foot Colorado River entitlement
each year to municipal and industrial users, agricultural irrigation
districts, and Indian communities.
Our goal at CAP is to provide an affordable, reliable and
sustainable supply of Colorado River water to a service area that
includes more than 80 percent of Arizona's population. These renewable
water supplies are critical to Arizona's economy and to the economies
of Native American communities throughout the state. Nearly 90% of
economic activity in the State of Arizona occurs within CAP's service
area. The canal provides an economic benefit of $100 billion annually,
accounting for one-third of the entire Arizona gross state product. CAP
also helps the State of Arizona meet its water management and
regulatory objectives of reducing groundwater use and ensuring
availability of groundwater as a supplemental water supply during
future droughts. Achieving and maintaining these water management
objectives is critical to the long-term sustainability of a state as
arid as Arizona.
the colorado river basin salinity control program--its history and
significance
Recognizing the rapidly increasing salinity concentration in the
Lower Colorado River and its impact on water users, Arizona joined with
the other Colorado River Basin States in 1973 and organized the
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum). In 1974, in
coordination with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S.
State Department, the Forum worked with Congress in the passage of the
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (Act) to offset increased
damages caused by continued development and use of the waters of the
Colorado River. Title I of the Salinity Control Act deals with the
United States' commitment to the quality of water being delivered to
Mexico. Title II of the Act deals with improving the quality of the
water delivered to the U.S. users.
In the early years of the Program, Reclamation implemented salinity
control through large projects that were funded with specific line item
amounts. In 1995, Congress amended the Act and created Reclamation's
Basinwide Program. Under this program, Reclamation funds competitive
proposals that will decrease the salt load to the Colorado River. Most
of the received proposals target off-farm irrigation distribution
systems such as canals and laterals. The lining or piping of canals and
laterals prevents leakage into the groundwater and the dissolution and
transportation of salts to the Colorado River and its tributaries.
States provide a 30 percent cost share of the projects implemented by
Reclamation. CAWCD and other key water providers in the United States
and Mexico are working to maintain salinity standards.
negative impacts of concentrated salts
Natural and man-induced salt loading to the Colorado River creates
environmental and economic damages. The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has identified that more than 60 percent of the salt load of the
Colorado River comes from natural sources. With the significant federal
ownership in the Basin, most of this comes from federally administered
lands. Human activity, principally irrigation, adds to the salt load of
the Colorado River. Further, natural and human activities concentrate
the dissolved salts in the River.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has estimated the
current quantifiable damages of salt at about $454 million per year.
Modeling by Reclamation indicates that quantifiable damages would
increase to approximately $671 million annually by 2040 if the program
were not to continue.
These damages include: a reduction in the yield of salt sensitive
crops and increased water use to meet the leaching requirements in the
agricultural sector; increased use of imported water and cost of
desalination and brine disposal for recycling water in the municipal
sector; a reduction in the useful life of galvanized water pipe
systems, water heaters, faucets, garbage disposals, clothes washers,
and dishwashers, and increased use of bottled water and water softeners
in the household sector; an increase in the cost of cooling operations
and the cost of water softening, and a decrease in equipment service
life in the commercial sector; an increase in the use of water and the
cost of water treatment, and an increase in sewer fees in the
industrial sector; a decrease in the life of treatment facilities and
pipelines in the utility sector; and difficulty in meeting wastewater
discharge requirements to comply with National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System permit terms and conditions, and an increase in
desalination and brine disposal costs due to accumulation of salts in
groundwater basins.
u.s. bureau of reclamation and drought contingency plan (dcp)
Federal legislation was enacted in 2019 to authorize the
implementation of the DCP at the federal level. The DCP was designed to
protect the Colorado River system through reductions in use and
increased incentives for storage in Lake Mead, the Lower Basin's
principal reservoir.
The DCP agreements were developed through a collaborative process
amongst the federal government, states, water users and Mexico. CAWCD
encourages Congress to continue to prioritize support for the
implementation of the DCP, including resources for the Bureau of
Reclamation to achieve the goal to conserve up to 100,000 acre-feet per
year as part of the DCP, and to continue to explore means to augment
Colorado River system supplies consistent with the Colorado River Basin
Project Act.
conclusion
Implementation of salinity control practices through Reclamation's
Basinwide Program has proven to be a very cost-effective method of
controlling the salinity of the Colorado River. In fact, the salt load
of the Colorado River has now been reduced by roughly 1.2 million tons
annually. However, shortfalls in recent Basinwide Program funding
levels have led to inefficiencies in the implementation of the overall
Program. The Plan of Implementation, as adopted by the states and
approved by EPA, calls for 63,500 tons of additional salinity control
measures to be implemented by Reclamation, the Bureau of Land
Management and the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Services
(NRCS) through 2021, or approximately 9,100 tons of new control each
year by Reclamation.
The current drought that has significantly impacted the West
affects the amount of and quality of available water, which in turn has
the potential to exacerbate the salinity concentration levels. As such,
we respectfully request $10.7 million for the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation's Basinwide Program for the Colorado River Basin in the
Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bill. Continuation of adequate funding
levels for salinity within this program will prevent further
degradation of water quality of the Colorado River and significant
increases of economic damages to its nearly 40 million municipal,
industrial and irrigation users. In addition, we encourage Congress to
continue to prioritize support for the implementation of the DCP.
[This statement was submitted by Theodore C. Cooke, General
Manager, Central Arizona Water Conservation District.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition
summary of clean hydrogen future coalition
fiscal year 2022 recommendation
CHFC (Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition) recommends $1,280,000,000
for clean hydrogen research, development, and deployment (RD&D)
activities at the Department of Energy for FY 2022. These
recommendations would direct $1,100,000,000 to clean hydrogen programs
within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and
$180,000,000 to clean hydrogen programs within the Office of Fossil
Energy. However, CHFC stresses the importance of collaboration among
the Offices of EERE, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy, and Science to
effectively and efficiently utilize funds and ensure a comprehensive
approach to clean hydrogen production, transport, and utilization.
Background on the Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition:
The Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition (CHFC) is a diverse group of
stakeholders supporting federal clean hydrogen policies that will
stimulate the adoption of clean hydrogen in the U.S. and enable our
country to achieve national decarbonization objectives while also
increasing U.S. global competitiveness. CHFC members represent a broad
spectrum of forward-thinking entities in industries that will play a
critical role in the transition to a clean energy economy with a robust
role for clean hydrogen.
Importance of Scaling Clean Hydrogen:
With its ability to be used as a fuel source for transportation, as
an industrial or chemical feedstock, or to produce and store
electricity, clean hydrogen will have a critical role in accelerating
decarbonization across all sectors of our economy. For example, clean
hydrogen will be necessary to decarbonize heavier modes of transport--
including heavy-duty trucking, shipping, and aviation--that are
substantially more difficult, if not impossible, to electrify than
passenger vehicles. Clean hydrogen can also be substituted for fossil
fuels to power certain high-temperature industrial processes that
cannot be electrified and for which other mitigation options are
limited or unavailable. In the electric power sector, clean hydrogen
can be used to produce CO2 emissions-free electricity and can be used
to enable the long-duration energy storage necessary to achieve the
net-zero emission electric grid envisioned by the Biden administration.
In order to create a clean hydrogen economy at the scale necessary
to achieve national decarbonization objectives, the U.S. must take
action to significantly reduce the cost of clean hydrogen production,
propel its investment in clean hydrogen infrastructure, and incentivize
its use in various end-use market applications. Scaling clean hydrogen
will also provide an opportunity to transition existing--and create
new--skilled, high wage jobs needed to support the clean energy
transition.
Importance of Federal Support for RD&D:
Given the level of clean hydrogen production, infrastructure, and
end-use demand that must be in place to power a clean hydrogen economy
at scale, a comprehensive and coordinated federal investment strategy
is required from the Department of Energy. The Department of Energy has
demonstrated commercialization successes across its applied energy
research offices and federal support has long played a critical role in
commercializing energy technologies and making them economically viable
for the private sector. There are typically long lead times for
advancing energy technologies from concept to demonstration, then to
commercialization, and each phase carries significant technical and
cost risks as well as uncertainty in market requirements and timing. To
accelerate the energy transition, robust federal support is necessary
to scale up clean hydrogen technologies through each of these stages,
particularly if they are to be made available in a sufficient period of
time to contribute to domestic decarbonization objectives.
fiscal year 2022 specific budget recommendations--office of energy
efficiency and renewable energy
The CHFC recommends $1.1 billion for clean hydrogen RD&D activities
within the EERE. While EERE has traditionally housed the majority of
federal RD&D programs related to hydrogen, CHFC encourages the
Committee to provide direction to DOE requiring cross-Department
collaboration on hydrogen RD&D activities.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies:
CHFC recommends $800 million. The CHFC recommends funding as
follows:
--H2@Scale Commercial Demonstration: CHFC recommends $500 million for
the initiation of a commercialization program for technologies
that have the potential to produce, transport, or utilize
hydrogen with low-, net-zero, or net-negative carbon dioxide
emissions. There are a number of clean hydrogen production
technologies for which funding should support, including hybrid
hydrogen production integrated with clean electricity
generation, autothermal reforming, compact hydrogen generators,
biomass combustion to hydrogen, and solid waste and plastics to
hydrogen. The CHFC encourages the Committee to recommend that
DOE utilize clean hydrogen produced from one commercial
demonstration facility for the purposes of supplying hydrogen
for medium- and heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and the
associated fueling infrastructure to demonstrate the
integration of clean hydrogen production with specific end use
applications. The CHFC recommends that these activities be
conducted in coordination with the Office of Fossil Energy.
--H2@Scale Front-End Engineering and Design: CHFC recommends $150
million for a front-end engineering and design (FEED) program
for technologies that have the potential to produce, transport,
or utilize hydrogen with low-, net-zero, or net-negative carbon
dioxide emissions. The CHFC recommends that these activities be
conducted in coordination with the Office of Fossil Energy.
--Research, Development, and Demonstration: CHFC recommends $150
million to expand clean hydrogen research, development and
demonstration activities based on the priorities described in
the Department of Energy's 2020 ``Hydrogen Program Plan'' and
work in coordination with the Offices of Fossil and Nuclear
Energy to advance the priorities outlined in the strategy.
Within available funds, CHFC recommends continued research on
novel onboard hydrogen tank systems, trailer delivery systems
to reduce cost of delivered hydrogen, novel chemical hydrogen
carriers, and development of material-based storage and
hydrogen storage materials. CHFC also recommends continued
electrolyzer development, including high-temperature
electrolyzer RD&D activities, cost-shared with the office of
Nuclear Energy, with a focus on improving the efficiency and
reducing costs of electrolyzers. CHFC recommends continued fuel
cell technology development for the transportation fleet,
including for long haul and heavy-duty trucking. The CHFC
encourages the Department to consult regularly with industry to
avoid duplication of private-sector activities and to work with
the Department of Transportation and industry on coordinating
efforts to deploy hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
SuperTruck III Program: CHFC recommends $300 million for continued
funding of the SuperTruck III program to improve the energy and freight
efficiency of heavy- and medium-duty long- and regional-haul vehicles.
Within this funding, CHFC recommends demonstration of hydrogen fuel
cell technologies capable of meeting cost, efficiency, and performance
targets identified by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office
for hydrogen-fueled long-haul Class 8 trucks.
fiscal year 2022 specific budget recommendations--office of fossil
energy
The CHFC recommends $180 million for the Office of Fossil Energy to
undertake hydrogen-related RD&D activities within the Fossil Energy
Research and Development (FE R&D) Program. The FE R&D Program can
leverage existing expertise to further develop clean hydrogen
production from fossil fuels coupled with carbon capture, utilization,
and storage (CCUS) with low- and net-zero CO2 emissions, or net-
negative emissions when fossil fuels are co-fired with sustainable
biomass resources. The Office of Fossil Energy is also home to existing
expertise within the Department on hydrogen transport via pipeline and
the use of clean hydrogen in industrial and power applications.
Natural Gas Technologies:
The CHFC recommends $90 million for the Natural Gas Technologies
Program as follows:
--Clean Hydrogen RD&D: CHFC recommends $40 million to establish a new
research and development initiative within the Natural Gas
Technologies Office to decarbonize the use of natural gas to
produce clean fuels, including low- or zero-carbon hydrogen and
other low carbon fuels or feedstocks such as ammonia.
Comprehensive planning approaches for transitioning segments of
the economy to hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels should be a
part of the program, including analysis of the infrastructure
required to store and transport these fuels.
--Natural Gas Infrastructure: CHFC recommends $50 million. The CHFC
recognizes the importance of leveraging our existing
infrastructure and its potential for transporting clean
hydrogen. Hydrogen blending in natural gas pipelines is being
studied, and there is a need for additional research to
understand the impacts to existing infrastructure. Within this
funding, the CHFC recommends not less than $10 million to
conduct research and development for hydrogen transportation
and storage infrastructure, which should address the safety,
mechanical integrity, and regulatory impacts of blending
hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines and assess whether
those blends can be utilized throughout the distribution
system. Pipeline research should also focus on novel, low-cost
materials for use in pipelines to assess compatibility of
higher-strength steels with hydrogen and first-of-a-kind
demonstrations of novel pipeline technologies. Storage research
should focus on geologic storage of hydrogen. Comprehensive
planning approaches for transitioning segments of natural gas
users to increased hydrogen use should be part of the program,
including analysis of the infrastructure required to store and
transport hydrogen
CCUS and Power Systems:
CHFC recommends $90 million for hydrogen-related RD&D activities
within the CCUS and Power Systems Program as follows:
--Advanced Turbines R&D: Within available funds for Advanced Energy
Systems, CHFC recommends $50 million for Advanced Turbines R&D,
with direction to use funds for a research and development
program focused on utilizing clean hydrogen, clean hydrogen-
natural gas blends, and ammonia and ammonia-hydrogen blends, to
test and validate components and their performance as an
integrated system, working cooperatively with industry,
universities, and other appropriate parties. Funding should
also support demonstrating hydrogen turbines that can be fueled
with pure hydrogen.
--Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Within available funds for Advanced Energy
Systems, CHFC recommends $40 million for the development of
next generation solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies to
produce power and hydrogen from fossil fuels. This activity
builds on significant progress made through research and
development in this program to enable efficient, cost-effective
electricity generation and hydrogen production with minimal use
of water. These activities will result in development of SOFC
technologies to produce hydrogen from fossil fuels while
benefiting from synergies with EERE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
Technologies Program relative to infrastructure developments
and safety of end use. This funding will preserve U.S.
leadership in SOFC technology, ensure utilization of extensive
fossil fuel resources in the U.S., and will result in ultra-
high efficiency production of power and hydrogen.
[This statement was submitted by Shannon Angielski, President,
Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum
Waters from the Colorado River are used by approximately 40 million
people for municipal and industrial purposes and used to irrigate
approximately 5.5 million acres in the United States. Natural and man-
induced salt loading to the Colorado River creates environmental and
economic damages. In 2020 the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)
estimated the quantifiable damages to Lower Basin water users due to
elevated salinity levels at about $354 million per year. Congress
authorized the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program (Program)
through the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (Act) (P.L. 93-
320) in 1974 to offset increased damages caused by continued
development and use of the waters of the Colorado River. Modeling by
Reclamation indicates that the quantifiable damages will rise to
approximately $671 million annually by the year 2040 without
continuation of the Program. Congress has directed the Secretary of the
Interior to implement a comprehensive program for minimizing salt
contributions to the Colorado River. Reclamation serves as the lead
federal agency in implementing the Program. Reclamation primarily
institutes salinity control through its Basinwide Program. A funding
level of $10.7 million is required in 2022 to prevent further
degradation of the quality of the Colorado River and a commensurate
increase in downstream economic damages to water users.
EPA has identified that more than 60 percent of the salt load of
the Colorado River comes from natural sources. The majority of land
within the Colorado River Basin is federally owned, much of which is
administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In authorizing the
Program, Congress recognized that most of the salts in the Colorado
River originate from federally owned lands. Title I of the Act deals
with programs downstream of Imperial Dam that enable the U.S. to meet
its commitment regarding the quality of waters being delivered to
Mexico (Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water
Commission, United States and Mexico). Title II of the Act addresses
measures upstream from Imperial Dam, thus improving the quality of the
water delivered to users in the United States. This testimony deals
specifically with Title II efforts.
In the early years of the Program, Reclamation implemented salinity
control through large projects, which were funded with specific line-
item amounts. In 1995, Congress amended the Act and created
Reclamation's Basinwide Program. Under this program, Reclamation funds
competitive proposals for projects which will decrease the salt load to
the Colorado River. Most of the received proposals target off-farm
irrigation distribution systems such as canals and laterals. The lining
or piping of canals and laterals prevents leakage of water into the
groundwater system and the dissolution and transportation of salts to
the Colorado River and its tributaries. It is more efficient and cost
effective for Reclamation to perform the off-farm distribution system
improvements prior to NRCS treating the on-farm acres with salinity
control practices (i.e., Reclamation should pipe a canal or lateral
prior to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) putting a
pressurized sprinkler system on farm). Shortfalls in recent Basinwide
Program funding levels have led to inefficiencies in the implementation
of the overall Program. The funding amount identified above is required
to get the Basinwide Program back on pace with the overall Program
implementation needs.
Concentration of salt in the Colorado River causes approximately
$354 million annually in quantified damages and significantly more in
unquantified damages in the United States and results in poor water
quality for United States users. Damages, by water usage sector,
include the following:
--a reduction in the ability to reclaim and reuse water for
beneficial uses, including drinking water and irrigation water
supplies, due to high salinities in the water delivered to
water treatment and reclamation facilities,
--a reduction in the yield of salt sensitive crops, increased water
use to meet leaching requirements and additional actions
necessary to comply with the Clean Water Act within the
agricultural sector,
--increased use of imported water and cost of desalination and brine
disposal for recycling water in the municipal sector,
--a reduction in the useful life of galvanized water pipe systems,
water heaters, faucets, garbage disposals, clothes washers and
dishwashers, and increased use of bottled water and water
softeners in the household sector,
--an increase in the cost of cooling operations and the cost of water
softening, and a decrease in equipment service life in the
commercial sector,
--an increase in the use of water and the cost of water treatment,
and a corresponding increase in sewer fees in the industrial
sector,
--a decrease in the lifespan of treatment facilities and pipelines in
the utility sector, and
--difficulty in meeting wastewater discharge requirements to comply
with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit
terms and conditions, and an increase in desalination and brine
disposal costs necessary to minimize accumulation of salts in
groundwater basins.
The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum) is composed
of gubernatorial appointees from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada,
New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The Forum is charged with reviewing the
Colorado River's water quality standards for salinity every three years
to facilitate compliance with Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act
(P.L. 92-500). In so doing, it adopts a Plan of Implementation
consistent with these standards. The level of appropriation requested
in this testimony is in keeping with the adopted Plan of
Implementation. If adequate funds are not appropriated, significant
damages from higher salinity concentrations in the water will be more
widespread in the United States and Mexico.
In summary, implementation of salinity control practices through
Reclamation's Basinwide Program has proven to be a very cost-effective
method of controlling the salinity of the Colorado River and is an
essential component to the overall Program. Adequate funding levels for
salinity control within this Program will prevent the water quality of
the Colorado River from further degradation and significant increases
in economic damages to municipal, industrial and irrigation users. A
modest investment in source control pays huge dividends in improved
water quality for nearly 40 million Americans.
[This statement was submitted by Don A. Barnett, Executive
Director, Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
summary
This Statement is submitted in support of Fiscal Year 2022
appropriations for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
(Program) of the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation). Reclamation serves as the lead federal agency in
implementing the Program. Reclamation primarily institutes salinity
control through its Basinwide Program. A total of $10,700,000 is
requested for Fiscal Year 2022 to implement the authorized salinity
control program of the Bureau of Reclamation. An appropriation of
$10,700,000 for Reclamation's salinity control program is needed to
protect water quality standards for salinity and to prevent unnecessary
levels of economic damage from increased salinity in water delivered to
the Lower Basin States of the Colorado River.
statement
The water quality standards for salinity of the Colorado River must
be protected while the Basin States continue to develop their compact
apportioned waters of the river. The salinity standards for the
Colorado River have been adopted by the seven Basin States and approved
by the Environmental Protection Agency. While currently the standards
have not been exceeded, salinity control projects must be brought on-
line in a timely manner to counter the effects of future development
that could result in unnecessary damages from higher levels of salinity
in the water delivered to the Lower Basin States of the Colorado River.
The seven Colorado River Basin States, in response to the Clean
Water Act of 1972, formed the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control
Forum (Forum), a body comprised of gubernatorial representatives from
the seven states. The Forum was created to provide for interstate
cooperation in response to the Clean Water Act and to provide the
states with information necessary to comply with Sections 303(a) and
(b) of the Act. The Forum has become the primary means for the Basin
States to coordinate with federal agencies and Congress to support the
implementation of the salinity control program for the Colorado River
Basin.
The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act was authorized by
Congress and signed into law in 1974. This authorized the Secretary of
the Interior to initiate the Program, and it created the Colorado River
Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council representing the seven Basin
States. This federal advisory committee works closely with the Forum.
Colorado River water is used by approximately 40 million people and
irrigates approximately 5.5 million acres in the United States. Bureau
of Reclamation studies show that quantified damages from Colorado River
salinity to United States water users are about $354 million per year.
Unquantified damages are greater. Reclamation's modeling indicates that
the quantifiable damages would increase to $671 million per year by
2040 if the Program is not continued. Control of salinity is necessary
for the states of the Colorado River Basin, including New Mexico, to
continue to develop their compact-apportioned waters of the Colorado
River.
Timely appropriations for the funding of the salinity control
program are essential to comply with the water quality standards for
salinity, prevent unnecessary economic damages in the United States,
and protect the quality of the water that the United States is
obligated to deliver to Mexico. The Basin States and federal agencies
agree that increases in the salinity of the Colorado River will result
in significant increases in damages to water users in the Lower
Colorado River Basin. Continued strong support and adequate funding of
the salinity control program is required to control salinity-related
damages in the United States and Mexico.
Congress amended the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act in
July 1995 (Public Law 104-20), creating Reclamation's Basinwide
Program. The Basinwide Program has proven to be cost-effective, and the
Basin States provide up-front cost-sharing. Proposals from public and
private sector entities in response to Reclamation's requests for
proposals and funding opportunity announcements have exceeded available
funding appropriated in recent years. The Basin States' cost-sharing
adds 43 cents for each federal dollar appropriated.
Public Law 106-459 gave the Bureau of Reclamation additional
spending authority for the salinity control program. With the
additional authority in place and cost-sharing available from the Basin
States, it is important that the salinity control program be funded at
the level requested by the Forum and Basin States to protect the water
quality of the Colorado River. Some of the most cost-effective salinity
control opportunities occur when Reclamation improves irrigation
delivery systems concurrently with on-farm irrigation improvements
undertaken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The Basin States cost-share funding
is available for both on-farm and off-farm improvements. The EQIP
funding appears to be adequate to accomplish the on-farm work. Adequate
funding for Reclamation's off-farm work is needed to maintain timely
implementation and effectiveness of salinity control measures.
I urge Congress to appropriate $10.7 million to the Basinwide
Program of the Bureau of Reclamation for the Colorado River Basin
Salinity Control Program. This investment in water quality will pay for
itself many times over. Also, I fully support testimony by the Forum's
Executive Director, Don Barnett, in request of this appropriation.
[This statement was submitted by Rolf Schmidt-Petersen, Director,
New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
summary
This Statement is submitted in support of Fiscal Year 2022
appropriations for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
(Program) of the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation). Reclamation serves as the lead federal agency in
implementing the Program. Reclamation primarily institutes salinity
control through its Basinwide Program. A total of $10,700,000 is
requested for Fiscal Year 2022 to implement the authorized salinity
control program of the Bureau of Reclamation. An appropriation of
$10,700,000 for Reclamation's salinity control program is needed to
protect water quality standards for salinity and to prevent unnecessary
levels of economic damage from increased salinity in water delivered to
the Lower Basin States of the Colorado River.
statement
The water quality standards for salinity of the Colorado River must
be protected while the Basin States continue to develop their compact
apportioned waters of the river. The salinity standards for the
Colorado River have been adopted by the seven Basin States and approved
by the Environmental Protection Agency. While currently the standards
have not been exceeded, salinity control projects must be brought on-
line in a timely manner to counter the effects of future development
that could result in unnecessary damages from higher levels of salinity
in the water delivered to the Lower Basin States of the Colorado River.
The seven Colorado River Basin States, in response to the Clean
Water Act of 1972, formed the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control
Forum (Forum), a body comprised of gubernatorial representatives from
the seven states. The Forum was created to provide for interstate
cooperation in response to the Clean Water Act and to provide the
states with information necessary to comply with Sections 303(a) and
(b) of the Act. The Forum has become the primary means for the Basin
States to coordinate with federal agencies and Congress to support the
implementation of the salinity control program for the Colorado River
Basin.
The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act was authorized by
Congress and signed into law in 1974. This authorized the Secretary of
the Interior to initiate the Program, and it created the Colorado River
Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council representing the seven Basin
States. This federal advisory committee works closely with the Forum.
Colorado River water is used by approximately 40 million people and
irrigates approximately 5.5 million acres in the United States. Bureau
of Reclamation studies show that quantified damages from Colorado River
salinity to United States water users are about $354 million per year.
Unquantified damages are greater. Reclamation's modeling indicates that
the quantifiable damages would increase to $671 million per year by
2040 if the Program is not continued. Control of salinity is necessary
for the states of the Colorado River Basin, including New Mexico, to
continue to develop their compact-apportioned waters of the Colorado
River.
Timely appropriations for the funding of the salinity control
program are essential to comply with the water quality standards for
salinity, prevent unnecessary economic damages in the United States,
and protect the quality of the water that the United States is
obligated to deliver to Mexico. The Basin States and federal agencies
agree that increases in the salinity of the Colorado River will result
in significant increases in damages to water users in the Lower
Colorado River Basin. Continued strong support and adequate funding of
the salinity control program is required to control salinity-related
damages in the United States and Mexico.
Congress amended the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act in
July 1995 (Public Law 104-20), creating Reclamation's Basinwide
Program. The Basinwide Program has proven to be cost-effective, and the
Basin States provide up-front cost-sharing. Proposals from public and
private sector entities in response to Reclamation's requests for
proposals and funding opportunity announcements have exceeded available
funding appropriated in recent years. The Basin States' cost-sharing
adds 43 cents for each federal dollar appropriated.
Public Law 106-459 gave the Bureau of Reclamation additional
spending authority for the salinity control program. With the
additional authority in place and cost-sharing available from the Basin
States, it is important that the salinity control program be funded at
the level requested by the Forum and Basin States to protect the water
quality of the Colorado River. Some of the most cost-effective salinity
control opportunities occur when Reclamation improves irrigation
delivery systems concurrently with on-farm irrigation improvements
undertaken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The Basin States cost-share funding
is available for both on-farm and off-farm improvements. The EQIP
funding appears to be adequate to accomplish the on-farm work. Adequate
funding for Reclamation's off-farm work is needed to maintain timely
implementation and effectiveness of salinity control measures.
I urge Congress to appropriate $10.7 million to the Basinwide
Program of the Bureau of Reclamation for the Colorado River Basin
Salinity Control Program. This investment in water quality will pay for
itself many times over. Also, I fully support testimony by the Forum's
Executive Director, Don Barnett, in request of this appropriation.
[This statement was submitted by Rolf Schmidt-Petersen, Director,
New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Colorado River Board of California
This testimony is in support of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 funding for
the Department of the Interior for Title II Colorado River Basin
Salinity Control Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-320), as amended. In the Act,
Congress designated the Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation) to be the lead agency for salinity control in
the Colorado River Basin. Reclamation primarily implements salinity
control through its Basinwide Program, established by Congress through
an amendment to the Act in 1995. Funding levels for the Basinwide
Program have fallen behind in recent years, and a funding level of
$10.7 million is requested to be provided in FY-2022 to prevent further
degradation of the quality of Colorado River water supplies and
increased economic damages.
The Colorado River System is used by approximately 40 million
people for municipal and industrial purposes and used to irrigate
approximately 5.5 million acres in the United States, and supplies
municipal and agricultural uses in Mexico. Within Southern California,
the Colorado River serves close to 20 million residents and 860,000
acres of irrigated agriculture, including municipal, industrial, and
agricultural water users in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside,
San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura Counties. Natural and human-
induced salt loading to the Colorado River creates environmental and
economic damages. In 2020 Reclamation estimated the quantifiable
economic damages from salt in the Colorado River at about $354 million
per year. Modeling by Reclamation indicates that these economic damages
could rise to nearly $671 million annually by the year 2040 without
continued implementation of the Basinwide Program.
The Colorado River Board of California is the state agency charged
with protecting California's interests and rights in the water and
power resources of the Colorado River system. In this capacity,
California participates along with the other six Colorado River Basin
states in the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum), the
interstate organization responsible for coordinating the Basin States'
salinity control efforts. In close cooperation with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and pursuant to requirements of
the Clean Water Act, the Forum is charged with reviewing the Colorado
River's water quality standards every three years. Every three years
the Forum also adopts a Plan of Implementation consistent with these
water quality standards. The level of appropriation being supported by
this testimony is consistent with the Forum's 2020 Plan of
Implementation for continued salinity control efforts within the
Colorado River Basin. The Forum's 2020 Plan of Implementation can be
found on this website: https://coloradoriversalinity.org/docs/
2020%20REVIEW%20-%20Final%20w%20appendices.
pdf.
If adequate funds are not appropriated to Reclamation's Basinwide
Program, significant environmental and economic damages associated with
increasing salinity concentrations in Colorado River water will become
more widespread in the United States and Mexican portions of the
Colorado River Basin. For example, damages occur from:
--A reduction in the ability and increased costs to reclaim and reuse
water for consumptive beneficial use, including drinking water
supply and irrigation, due to high salinities in the water
delivered to water treatment and reclamation facilities;
--A reduction in the yield of salt-sensitive crops, increased water
use to meet the leaching requirements to maintain crop
productivity, and additional actions necessary to comply with
the Clean Water Act in the agricultural sector;
--Increased use of imported water and increased cost of desalination
and brine disposal for recycling water in the municipal sector;
--A reduction in the useful life of galvanized water pipe systems,
water heaters, faucets, garbage disposals, clothes washers and
dishwashers, and increased use of bottled water and water
softeners in the residential sector;
--An increase in the cost of cooling operations and the cost of water
softening, and a decrease in equipment service life in the
commercial sector;
--An increase in the use of water and the cost of water treatment,
and a corresponding increase in sewer fees in the industrial
sector;
--A decrease in the lifespan of treatment facilities and pipelines in
the utility sector; and
--Difficulty in meeting wastewater discharge requirements to comply
with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit
terms and conditions, and an increase in desalination and brine
disposal costs necessary to minimize accumulation of salts in
groundwater basins.
The 2020 Plan of Implementation, as adopted by the Basin States and
approved by EPA, calls for 62,400 tons annually of additional salinity
control measures to be implemented by Reclamation, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, and Bureau of Land Management by 2024. Over the
past years, the Basinwide Program has proven to be a very cost-
effective approach to help mitigate the impacts of increased salinity
in the Colorado River. Adequate federal funding of this important
program is essential. Based on current program cost levels,
Reclamation's funding for the Basinwide Program must be at least $10.7
million to meet those annual salinity control targets.
The Colorado River is, and will continue to be, a major and vital
water resource to the nearly 20 million residents of southern
California, including municipal, industrial, and agricultural water
users in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San
Diego, and Ventura Counties. The protection and improvement of Colorado
River water quality through an effective salinity control program
avoids additional economic and environmental damages to California, the
other Colorado River Basin states and Mexico that rely on Colorado
River water resources.
Thank you for your consideration of this testimony.
[This statement was submitted by Christopher S. Harris, Executive
Director,
Colorado River Board of California.]
______
Prepared Statement of Colorado Springs Utilities
Dear Chairman Feinstein and Senator Kennedy:
I am writing to you on behalf of Colorado Springs Utilities to
request your support for appropriations included in the President's
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper
Colorado Region for the Colorado River Compliance Activities and
Endangered Species Programs.
Colorado Springs Utilities is the largest community-owned, not-for-
profit, four-service utility in the nation. We provide water,
wastewater, gas, and electric utility services to approximately 500,000
residents in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado. The successful
continuation of the Colorado River Compliance Activities and Endangered
Species Programs are of great importance to Colorado Springs Utilities
and our community. These collaborative programs are critical to
improving, conserving, and recovering endangered fish species, while
maintaining water use and development, ESA compliance, and federal
project authorized purposes.
The President's recommended budget included the following items and
amounts:
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Programs
provide $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities needed
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes:
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Endangered
Fish Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance
stream flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and
conserve genetic integrity through hatcheries and stocking
efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and research and
monitoring to provide the scientific basis to guide decision
making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Bureau of Reclamation project upstream of
Lake Powell.
We appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continued financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Earl Wilkinson III, Chief Water
Compliance
Innovation Officer, Colorado Springs Utilities.]
______
Prepared Statement of Colorado Springs Utilities
Dear Chairman Feinstein and Senator Kennedy:
I am writing to you on behalf of Colorado Springs Utilities to
request your support for appropriations included in the President's
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper
Colorado Region for the Colorado River Compliance Activities and
Endangered Species Programs.
Colorado Springs Utilities is the largest community-owned, not-for-
profit, four-service utility in the nation. We provide water,
wastewater, gas, and electric utility services to approximately 500,000
residents in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado. The successful
continuation of the Colorado River Compliance Activities and Endangered
Species Programs are of great importance to Colorado Springs Utilities
and our community. These collaborative programs are critical to
improving, conserving, and recovering endangered fish species, while
maintaining water use and development, ESA compliance, and federal
project authorized purposes.
The President's recommended budget included the following items and
amounts:
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Programs
provide $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities needed
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes:
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Endangered
Fish Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance
stream flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and
conserve genetic integrity through hatcheries and stocking
efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and research and
monitoring to provide the scientific basis to guide decision
making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Bureau of Reclamation project upstream of
Lake Powell.
We appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continued financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Earl Wilkinson III, Chief Water
Compliance
Innovation Officer, Colorado Springs Utilities.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Colorado Water Congress
I am requesting your support for appropriations in the President's
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper
Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery
Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program.
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget for
these programs are described below.
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream
flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and
conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and
stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and
research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to
guide decision making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake
Powell.
I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Doug Kemper, Executive Director,
Colorado Water Congress.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Columbia Basin Development League
Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, members of the
Subcommittee, thank you for giving the Columbia Basin Development
League (League) the opportunity to submit testimony on the Bureau of
Reclamation's budget for fiscal year 2022. This testimony is submitted
on behalf of the League, its members, and stakeholders. The League is
made up of farmers, businesses, civic and economic groups, and
individuals that recognize the importance of completing the Bureau of
Reclamation's Columbia Basin Project (CBP). The CBP is the largest
Reclamation project in the U.S. and generates over $5.81 billion in
annual, cumulative economic activity. The League was organized in the
early 1960's to support the CBP so as to ensure delivery of essential
water supplies to highly productive agricultural land in Washington
State.
The League's long-term goal is full development of the CBP; but
today it remains about 3/4 developed. And while the CBP is an existing
line item in the Bureau of Reclamation's budget, we request an increase
to that line item with funding dedicated to a critical economic and
environmental issue: the decline of the Odessa Aquifer. The Odessa
Aquifer is on the eastern-most side of the CBP in a region authorized
to receive water. The State of Washington issued ground water permits
in the 1960's and 1970's so agricultural and economic development could
begin in the area while local communities waited for the federal
government to build out the CBP. As already mentioned, the CBP is 3/4
completed. While communities and farmers waited, ground water levels
severe declined in the Odessa region.
Saving the Odessa Aquifer would keep and create jobs in both the
near and long term, maintain agricultural production, improve food
security, protect and bolster economic vitality of Eastern Washington's
communities, and fulfill a federal commitment--decades in the making--
by providing access to the critical resource of water.
Since 1980, ground water levels in the Odessa area have dropped
approximately 200 feet. In some cases, ground water must be pumped from
wells as deep as 2,400 feet. Pumping water from this depth is costly
and water found at this depth is of poor quality: high sodium
concentrations, and often requiring treatment before use. Numerous
farmers, and increasingly, municipalities drawing from the same aquifer
have wells that are no longer productive, or produce water of such poor
quality that is not useable. As the aquifer continues to decline, well
failures increase.
Many parts of the United States are dealing with declining aquifers
and share the economic consequences. However, the ground water supplies
in the Odessa, unlike many other areas, can be replaced with a
sustainable supply of surface water. The water and associated water
rights are available and already secured. However, the water delivery
infrastructure necessary to secure the entire region's economic
vitality needs to be completed.
To solve this issue, the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Project
(OGWRP) was established as the preferred alternative in the 2012 Odessa
Subarea Special Study Final Environmental Impact Statement. OGWRP seeks
to supply surface water from the CBP to irrigate land currently using
ground water (as planned by the Bureau of Reclamation for build-out of
the CBP). In addition to other dedicated CBP funding, the OGWRP
received $1.28 million in formulated funding and $222,000 in additional
capacity in FY2021. The President's FY2022 budget request includes
$27,985,000 for the CBP. A portion of these funds would be used for a
variety of programs, including the phased development of the OGWRP.
We respectfully request Congress invest an additional $18,525,000
specifically for the OGWRP in FY2022.
The OGWRP is an environmental and regional economy rescue program.
Ground water supplies conserved, as a result of OGWRP, will be reserved
for domestic and municipal uses while preserving highly productive
irrigated lands that drive thousands of jobs in the region. The program
has completed all required environmental, water rights and Endangered
Species Act reviews and is already in phased construction. A series of
pumping plant and pipeline systems are being built along East Low Canal
to serve land now irrigated from deep wells. The first system to be
constructed at East Low (EL) canal mile 47.5 began operating this
irrigation season. Three more systems are in the design phase. Our
request of this subcommittee is for the necessary funding to complete
those designs and begin design on additional systems required to
implement Reclamation's preferred alternative for the program, which
has a positive benefit/cost ration allowing Reclamation investment. Our
request also includes $1,676,000 to automate East Low Canal (ELC)
gravity head gates to adjust for fluctuations resulting from conveyance
of new pump plant diversions. The automated gates will create
consistent lateral flows regardless of canal fluctuations, reducing
waste and labor and resulting in water conservation and safe
operations.
The State of Washington and local land owners recognize the vital
importance of finding a sustainable water supply. Since 2005, the state
has contributed over $125 million in funding for projects to supply
water to the Odessa region. This includes construction of major
infrastructure components (including structures like siphons) which
become the property of the federal government upon completion. Local
landowners also invest in this project through the repayment of
municipal bonds secured by the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District.
These are significant investments in federally-owned projects.
Funding for OGWRP presents an excellent opportunity for federal
investment in an innovative infrastructure project for rural and
underserved communities. Additional funding will specifically help
complete expansion of the East Low Canal and build out the pump and
pipeline infrastructure necessary for surface water deliver to farmers.
These are shovel ready projects that are vital for the continued
development of the CBP as well as the preservation of groundwater for
multiple municipalities across the region. Details for the various
components are provided below. Without OGWRP, the aquifer will continue
to decline at an unsustainable rate and both agricultural water
supplies and the domestic water supply of many underserved communities
will dry up. Allocating an additional $18,525,000 to the Bureau of
Reclamation for OGWRP will help save these communities and protect
annual economic activity that sustains the region.
The League recognizes the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and
the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development face numerous
challenges as a part of the FY2022 appropriations process. We greatly
appreciate the efforts of the Appropriations Committee as it works to
address these challenges. We also appreciate the support and work of
the Bureau of Reclamation, the State of Washington, and Washington's
Congressional delegation. Their efforts are integral to meeting current
and future water supply needs.
Chairman Feinstein and Ranking Member Kennedy, thank you again for
giving the League the opportunity to provide testimony and thank you
for your efforts to fund our nation's water infrastructure. Please let
us know if the League and its members can be of assistance to you
during this process.
Respectfully.
[This statement was submitted by Vicky Scharlau, Executive
Director, Columbia Basin Development League.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Madam Chair and members of the subcommittee, the Columbia River
Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) is pleased to share its view on
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) FY2022 budget. My testimony
addresses FY 2022 and includes a summary of Corps projects developing
in coming years. We specifically identify the following FY 2022
requests:
--$25.7 million--Columbia River Fish Mitigation--WA-OR-ID
--$22M--Columbia River Biological Opinion
--$3.7M--Willamette River Biological Opinion
--$3.0 million--John Day Mitigation/The Dalles Dam Pre-Engineering
and Design with FY 2022 Workplan support
--$1.01 million--Tribal Partnership Program (TPP) for a Columbia
River Zone 6 Tributary Delta Feasibility Study to address
sediment management issues
The CRITFC request will support implementation of the Columbia
River and Willamette River Biological Opinions, continued funding
support for the full implementation of the John Day/The Dalles Dam
Mitigation program and funds for the initiation of a Tribal
Participation Project focused on Columbia River Bonneville Pool
sediment issues. We appreciate the support in FY 2021 for Corps-
implemented Pacific lamprey projects in fulfillment of federal
commitments under the Columbia Basin Fish Accords.
Program Description: The Corps' Columbia River Fisheries Mitigation
(CRFM) program mitigates impacts to anadromous fish resulting from the
development and operation of federal dams on the mainstem Columbia and
Snake rivers. Authority for this program is contained in the original
Congressional dam construction and operation authorities.
The partnership between the Corps and the Lower Columbia River
treaty tribes has expanded under the Columbia Basin Fish Accords.
Multiple projects have been developed, funded, and completed. The
record of success drove the agreement for a four-year extension of the
Accords (2019-2022) to support projects in progress or in development.
Reviewing the BiOp and Proposed Action (PA) and commitments made in
those documents, this level of funding is inadequate to meet these
needs let alone additional needs that the tribes and other regional
entities have identified. In addition, new needs are becoming more
apparent such as the need for additional detections both upstream and
downstream of Bonneville Dam to ensure reach survivals can be
calculated. The new flex spill program has, through its success of
diverting more migrating fish away from powerhouses, reduced detections
and thus made it challenging if not impossible to estimate reach
survivals. Future management actions will be based on this information.
The BiOp and PA also outline a need to evaluate the flex spill program
yet no funds have been identified for this.
The operation and management budget (O&M) has been flat funded and
continues to be so. However, the new BiOp and PA has shifted more
actions and responsibilities to the O&M budget, such as avian
dissuasion and monitoring in the estuary. When one considers inflation
and salary increase, it is apparent that this is an untenable position.
These plans are requiring more from a budget that is already stretched
too thin. The O&M budget is struggling to maintain the existing system
let alone dealing with the aging infrastructure without even
considering new obligations.
The Tribes are concerned that the Administration's trend in recent
years of decreases to the CRFM budgets and this year's more than 29%
proposed decrease in funding for CRFM--Columbia River leaves critical
projects without budget support resulting in, for example:
--Reduction in management for avian predators, including the
estuary and dam tailraces;
--Delay of the Bonneville Dam Second Powerhouse fish guidance
improvement that would benefit both power operations and
fish survival;
--Reductions by half the Corps' contribution to habitat
improvements in the Columbia River estuary;
--Reductions by more than half of funds needed for research and
development in the CRFM project area; and
--Additional pressures on already under-funded operations and
maintenance budgets.
Recently, the Corps expanded the purposes of CRFM to include
implementation of fish passage related improvements to Corps dams in
the Willamette River basin and implementation of lamprey passage
improvements at mainstem dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers through
agreements detailed in the Columbia Basin Fish Accords. The revised
cost and schedule from the Corps is calculated at $2.79 million through
2023. The Administration's request is contrary to that schedule.
John Day & The Dalles Fish Mitigation: Achieving In-place, In-kind
Mitigation
Prior to hydropower development, the mainstem Columbia River from
Celilo Falls to the confluence of the Snake River was one of the most
important spawning and early rearing areas for upriver bright fall
chinook. Construction of The Dalles Dam in 1957 and John Day Dam in
1967 inundated much of the available spawning habitat for fall chinook
in the mainstem Columbia River. In the John Day and The Dalles Dam
Mitigation program (JDTDM) Congress authorized the Corps to mitigate
for anticipated future natural production losses caused by construction
of the dams as early as 1948. Funding for JDTDM was used initially to
produce fall chinook at Bonneville State Hatchery and Spring Creek
National Fish Hatchery, both of which are located downstream from the
areas affected by the John Day and The Dalles dams and centuries old
tribal fisheries.
While several production program adjustments have occurred in the
last 10 years, additional work is still needed to meet in-place/in-kind
mitigation objectives under the COE's JDTDM program to put the right
fish (upriver bright fall chinook) in the right places (in the area
impacted by the John Day and The Dalles Dams). Additional hatchery
infrastructure is necessary to accommodate increased production of
upriver bright fall chinook at an expanded Ringold Springs Hatchery or
alternative to be developed by the Corps in FY 2022. To implement the
plan developed in collaboration by the Corps, the treaty tribes and
state co-managers and federal fish agencies, we anticipate the Corps
will make a budget request for design and construction at the Ringold
Springs Hatchery or other suitable alternative for FY 2022.
Pacific Lamprey Restoration Projects Restarted with FY 2020 Workplan
Support
The Corps and the Commission's member tribes have been implementing
a multi-year lamprey plan while simultaneously implementing high
priority lamprey actions. The Columbia Basin Fish Accords have given
both flexibility and stability to tribal projects and the contracting
process. We are able to plan projects over longer--more meaningful--
timeframes and adjust tasks between years, where necessary, for the
good of the project or to address regional needs. The result is
improved and more efficient projects and process. And the lamprey
resource has responded, as measured through increased counts at
mainstem Columbia River dams, increases in volitional returns of adults
to the tributaries (guided by larval pheromones), documented spawning
success, increases in larval abundance, and detections of translocation
offspring and upper Columbia Basin siblings in the mainstem as
outmigrants and in adult collections from the ocean. The long and
complex life cycle of Pacific lamprey ( up to 10 years from hatching
to returning adults), combined with the lack of homing, requires a
long-term strategy to address critical uncertainties and support
conservation and restoration efforts. However, the numbers remain well
below historical accounts of lamprey populations throughout the
Columbia Basin. It should be noted that the benefits that lamprey
provide to other fish and wildlife species cannot be overstated.
The Tribal-Corps lamprey technical team has worked collaboratively
to identify priority lamprey actions throughout the Accord and Accord
Extension periods. We are grateful for the robust commitment of project
funds in the FY2021 Workplan in fulfillment of the Corps' four-year
Accord extension. The Corps, CRITFC member tribes, and others are
prioritizing the work to be accomplished with this funding. Priority
actions being discussed include (but are not limited to) evaluating
juvenile lamprey survival and downstream passage success through
Columbia and Snake river dams, modifying fishways and lamprey-specific
structures to improve upstream adult passage, and upgrading tribal
translocation program infrastructure. Workplan funding has given
assurance these projects will go forward, the investments made in the
prior 12 years of work under the Accords will be protected, and lamprey
populations will begin to reverse their precipitous decline. Based on
the current inventory of unfunded projects, we expect that similar
workplan commitments will be on-going into the foreseeable future.
We ask Congress to fully support the Columbia River and Willamette
River Biological Opinions through the Columbia River Fish Mitigation
program above the request to include all capability identified by the
Corps. These tribal recommendations total $25.7 million for FY2022.
History and Background of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish
Commission
CRITFC was founded in 1977 by the four Columbia River Treaty
Tribes: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon,
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Nez Perce
Tribe. CRITFC provides coordination and technical assistance to these
tribes in regional, national and international efforts to protect and
restore our shared salmon resource and the habitat upon which it
depends. Our collective ancestral homeland covers nearly one-third of
the entire Columbia River basin in the United States, an area the size
of the State of Georgia.
In 1855, the U.S. entered into treaties with the four tribes \1\
whereupon we ceded millions of acres of our homelands to the U.S. In
return, the U.S. pledged to honor our ancestral rights, including the
right to fish in all Usual and Accustomed locations. Unfortunately, a
perilous history brought the salmon resource to the edge of extinction
with 12 salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia Basin listed
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Treaty with the Yakama Nation, June 9, 1855, 12 Stat. 951;
Treaty with the Tribes of Middle Oregon, June 25, 1855, 12 Stat. 963;
Treaty with the Umatilla Tribe, June 9, 1855, 12 Stat. 945; Treaty with
the Nez Perce Tribe, June 11, 1855, 12 Stat. 957.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The CRITFC tribes are globally recognized leaders in fisheries
restoration and management working in collaboration with state,
federal, and private entities. We are principals in the region's
efforts to halt the decline of salmon, lamprey, and sturgeon
populations and rebuild them to levels that support ceremonial,
subsistence, and commercial harvests. To achieve these objectives, our
actions emphasize 'gravel-to-gravel' management including
supplementation of natural stocks, restoring healthy watersheds, and
committing to collaborative efforts.
Ongoing and Future Need Areas Addressing Sedimentation in Lower
Columbia Pools
Years of sediment accumulation behind federal hydropower projects
in the lower Columbia River, and especially at the mouths of
tributaries, is affecting the physical and biological characteristics
of project reservoirs.
These characteristics are manifesting in ecosystem distress,
navigation problems, and limiting access to treaty-protected tribal
fishing access sites. Sediment accumulation affects invasive and non-
native species management, anadromous fish migration, water quality
temperature impairment, tribal fishing sites access, navigation
hazards, increased need and risk in providing emergency response, and
increased risk for recreational activities.
The Corps, in partnership with the Columbia River treaty tribes,
have initiated work under the Water Resources Development Act and the
Tribal Partnership Program on a feasibility study to identify a suite
of possible management actions needed to address sediment issues in the
Bonneville Pool on the Washington side of the river. Lessons learned in
this pilot effort will be expanded to the Oregon side of the river as
well as upstream into the other reservoirs created by the Columbia
River Power System.
In summary, through the combined efforts of the four Columbia River
treaty tribes, supported by a staff of experts, we are proven natural
resource managers. Our activities benefit the region while also being
essential to the U.S. obligation under treaties, federal trust
responsibility, federal statutes, and court orders. We ask for your
continued support of our efforts. We are prepared to provide additional
information you may require on our views of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers FY2022 Budget. Contact: Paul Ward, Director of Governmental
Affairs, CRITFC, [email protected].
[This statement was submitted by Jeremy Takala, Chairman, Columbia
River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
______
Prepared Statement of Dolores Water Conservancy District
I am requesting your support for appropriations in the President's
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper
Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery
Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program.
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget for
these programs are described below.
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes:
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream
flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and
conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and
stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and
research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to
guide decision making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake
Powell.
Dolores Water Conservancy District believes that this program,
which is successfully recovering the four ESA listed Upper Colorado and
San Juan River Basin species, remains our best avenue to sustain our
rural economy in southwestern Colorado in compliance with the necessary
conservation of these fish. Any cessation of these programs would
jeopardize the years of positive progress made to date and have
rippling effects through our rural farming community supported by the
Dolores Project, an integral part of the Colorado Ute Indian Rights
Settlement.
I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Kenneth W. Curtis III, General
Manger,
Dolores Water Conservancy District.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Edison Electric Institute
The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) submits this testimony for the
record to the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy
and Water Development regarding fiscal year (FY) 2022 carbon-free
energy research, development, demonstration, and commercial
applications (RDD&CA) activities for the Department of Energy (DOE).
EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned
electric companies. Our members provide electricity for 220 million
Americans and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As
a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs
in communities across the United States. In addition to our U.S.
members, EEI has more than 65 international electric companies as
International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related
organizations as Associate Members. We are united in our commitment to
get the energy we provide as clean as we can as fast as we can, without
compromising on the reliability or affordability that are essential to
the customers and communities we serve. Overall, carbon emissions from
the electric power sector are at their lowest level since 1978-and
continue to fall. Collectively, EEI's member companies are on a path to
reduce their carbon emissions at least 80 percent by 2050, compared
with 2005 levels, with many companies pledging to reduce their
emissions even further and even faster. As of 2020, the industry is 40
percent below 2005 carbon emission levels. And, 40 percent of our
nation's electricity comes from carbon-free resources.
Existing technologies can get us much of the way to a 100-percent
clean energy future. Completing the work will require new, affordable,
carbon-free, 24/7 technologies. As a result, there is an urgent need to
significantly increase investments in these new clean energy
technologies. Technology will drive the timeline to a 100-percent clean
energy future.
Because of how electric companies are regulated at the state and
federal levels, they cannot invest heavily in RDD&CA of new
technologies; our industry is not like others, such as the defense or
pharmaceutical industries, which spend billions of dollars annually on
research and development (R&D) activities. This is a major reason why
EEI believes we cannot afford a ``business-as-usual'' approach to
federal investments in carbon-free power technologies. The federal
government's RDD&CA activities are a critical resource for our
industry.
EEI has joined with non-governmental organizations to form the
Carbon-Free Technology Initiative (CFTI), which is focused on
implementation of federal policies that can help ensure the commercial
availability of affordable, carbon-free, 24/7 power technology options
by the early 2030s, when EEI's member companies must make investment
decisions that will enable them to reach their longer-term climate
commitments. The CFTI includes EEI and its member electric companies,
Clean Air Task Force, Bipartisan Policy Center, Center for Climate and
Energy Solutions, ClearPath, Great Plains Institute, Information
Technology & Innovation Foundation, Nuclear Energy Institute, and Third
Way.
The CFTI focuses on policy recommendations to advance a number of
key technology areas:
--Long-duration energy storage and advanced demand efficiency;
--Advanced, 24/7, and renewable super hot rock deep geothermal;
--Zero-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen;
--Advanced nuclear energy (both fission and fusion);
--Carbon capture, utilization, and storage; and
--Advanced wind and solar energy systems.
CFTI also supports the creation of a domestic supply chain and
increased demonstration projects for advanced clean energy
technologies.
For FY 2022, CFTI recommends a nearly tripling of funds above the
roughly $4.2 billion authorized levels for specific DOE RDD&CA programs
for carbon-free power-sector technologies. Funding projects beyond R&D
will be critical to achieving deep carbon reductions. At a minimum, key
new authorizations from the Energy Act of 2020 should be fully funded
in FY 2022 and should be increased above authorization levels through
FY 2025.
The President's budget request for FY 2022 invests more than $10
billion in clean energy innovation across multiple non-defense
agencies, DOE's budget request would make historic investments that
would lay the foundation to build a clean energy economy and help the
electric power industry reach its long-term carbon emission reduction
goals.
We are very pleased that the President's budget request includes
$400 million to create the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations at
DOE. This new entity would become the hub for scaling up near- and mid-
term clean energy technology projects and provide awards for multi-year
demonstration projects in conjunction with private-sector partners. The
CFTI recommends the creation of the new office. It is essential that
the federal government play a role in demonstrating new clean energy
technologies to help provide enough certainty about the performance of
a technology that lenders, plant owners, and customers consider it to
be sufficiently de-risked for commercial use.
advanced nuclear
We recommend $2.23 billion in FY 2022 funding for high-priority
advanced nuclear programs. This would include:
--Doubling appropriations to at least $340 million per FY for 5 years
for nuclear fission technologies R&D within the light water
sustainability reactor program, advanced reactor technology
program, and used nuclear fuel disposition program;
--Providing up to $900 million per FY for the next 5 years to ensure
that the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) will come online by 2026;
--Establishing multi-year funding sufficient to support the existing
Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) and providing
continuing rounds of risk reduction awards to the projects
awarded under ARDP's first phase, as well as expanding ARDP to
fund additional projects, including additional awards for the
commercial demonstration of 3 Generation IV reactor designs and
an award for the commercial demonstration of 2 micro-reactor
technologies that can be commercially deployed by 2027;
--Maintaining funding for existing programs benefitting advanced
reactor development, such as the advanced small modular reactor
cost-share; and
--Providing additional and consistent funding of at least $150
million per FY for at least 5 years to the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission for advanced reactor licensing.
In addition, we recommend providing $1.2 billion per FY for the
next 5 years for the applied fusion program that was authorized in the
Energy Act of 2020.
energy storage
We recommend funding critical energy storage programs at the $648
million authorized level for FY 2022 and focusing the funding on
longer-duration storage. We support:
--Maintaining or increasing funding for Energy Storage Grand
Challenge, Grid Storage Launchpad, HydroWIRES, and ARPA-E DAYS;
--Increasing appropriations for the Grid Modernization Initiative
(GMI) and ARPA-E's Green Electricity Network Integration
(GENI);
--Establishing a financial assistance program to support demand
efficiency R&D and pilot demonstrations involving upgraded
software platforms, power system planning tools, and modeling
platforms; and
--Directing DOE to utilize existing grant funding programs to
prioritize pilot demonstration projects involving the
integration of demand efficiency technologies.
zero-carbon fuels
We recommend appropriating $3.43 billion in FY 2022 for high-
priority RDD&CA activities for zero-carbon fuels (ZCF), such as
hydrogen. We support:
--Providing DOE with approximately $3 billion annually to support
integrated demonstrations on a variety of use cases with ZCF
and increasing appropriations for ZCF-related RDD&CA efforts to
$400 million per FY;
--Fully funding at FY 2020 levels for at least 5 years (a 5-year, $50
million initiative) the H2NEW consortium and other existing
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies (HFTO) consortia; and
--Increasing funding for HFTO and other DOE offices to create new
consortia of electric companies and other types of energy and
infrastructure companies to foster one or more integrated ZCF
``value chain'' demonstrations.
carbon capture, utilization, and storage (ccus)
Carbon capture for natural gas facilities is critical given the
essential role that natural gas plays in providing 24/7 electricity as
companies continue to add variable resources to the grid. For FY 2022,
we recommend $4.995 billion for critical CCUS programs. We support:
--Establishing an additional grant program with at least $1.2 billion
per FY for the 5 years that would be available to commercial-
scale carbon capture projects to complete construction;
--Appropriating at least $500 million per FY through FY 2025 to
facilitate the commercialization of large-scale saline storage
locations with the capacity to accept at least 10 million tons
of carbon dioxide (CO2);
--Increasing appropriations by $100 million annually for 5 fiscal
years to provide funding to cover front-end engineering and
design (FEED) studies for commercial-scale capture plants;
--Increasing appropriations to $700 million over the next 5 years for
the Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE)
program to complete existing projects under Phase VI (covers
six existing projects), and to initiate at least 4 new
CarbonSAFE projects and provide support for their completion
from Phase I to Phase VI;
--Increasing appropriations to $450-650 million per FY for at least 5
years for the Office of Fossil Energy's activities to improve
the cost and performance of capture technologies;
--Providing $20 million for FEED study grants for CO2 transportation
infrastructure.
super hot rock (shr) deep geothermal
We recommend appropriating $100 million in FY 2022 for SHR deep
geothermal, including:
--At least $30 million per FY for 5 years for a dedicated program and
laboratory focus on SHR geothermal innovation through
coordination between ARPA-E and the Geothermal Technologies
Office; and
--$70 million per FY for 5 years to support demonstration projects
under different scenarios.
advanced wind and solar energy
We recommend funding advanced wind and solar programs at the $425
million authorized funding level in FY 2022. In particular, we
recommend identifying specific cost reduction targets and timetables
across the value chain for advanced renewables R&D to help achieve cost
targets by 2030 and amending R&D priorities to include offshore wind,
onshore wind, solar, grid modernization, and end-of-life reuse.
[This statement was submitted by Thomas R. Kuhn, President, Edison
Electric
Institute.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Electric Drive Transportation Association
The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) is the cross-
industry trade association promoting the advancement of electric drive
technology and electrified transportation. We are writing to support
robust FY2022 funding for the Department of Energy (DOE) electric
transportation programs, including the Vehicle Technologies Program,
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, ARPA-E, ARPA-C, Department
of Energy Loan Programs, and Clean Cities. DOE's research, development
and deployment programs speed clean technology innovation, increase
U.S. competitiveness and will play an important role in achieving the
Administration's goals for electric transportation.
EDTA's members represent the entire value chain of electric drive,
including vehicle manufacturers, battery and component manufacturers,
utilities and energy companies, smart grid and charging infrastructure
developers. Collectively, we are committed to realizing the economic,
national security and environmental benefits of displacing oil with
electricity in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery, and fuel cell electric
vehicles. The Department's research and work with private partners will
help the many industries that comprise the electric drive ecosystem to
meet net zero emissions goals.
This Committee has consistently recognized that electric
transportation is critical to the effort to reduce emissions, create
good-paying jobs and livable communities and increase U.S.
competitiveness in the global marketplace. In her testimony to the
Subcommittee on May 6, 2021, Secretary Granholm echoed that
recognition, emphasizing the Department's role in addressing climate
change, including over funding opportunities to advance clean energy
R&D projects and the Department's loan programs, including Title 17 and
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM).
The importance of electrifying transportation has been widely
documented. Emissions from the transportation sector have exceeded
those from power plants since 2016. Electric transportation solutions
reduce emissions, while advancing our leadership in global energy
technology markets. The Union of Concerned Scientists studied the total
emissions reductions of electric drive in every region of the country.
The study found that no matter where in the U.S. an EV is charged and
operated, it has fewer total well-to-wheels emissions than the average
gasoline-powered vehicle sold today.
Electrification is also a national security imperative. In 2019,
the transportation sector accounted for approximately 28 percent of the
nation's energy use; 91 percent of that energy came from petroleum
fuels. This reliance is a chronic threat to U.S. energy and economic
security. It also keeps consumers vulnerable to volatile markets and
fluctuating prices for petroleum.
As the global transportation sector electrifies, the U.S. needs to
secure leadership in this market. By 2040, electric vehicles are
projected to account for 58 percent of all passenger vehicle sales and
make-up more than one-third of the global fleet. Electrification is
growing in all transportation applications: 67 percent of municipal
buses, 47 percent of two-wheelers, and 24 percent of light-duty
commercial vehicles are expected to be electric by 2040. International
governments have made clear their intentions to dominate this market.
China is investing heavily in research and development, expanding
efforts to secure critical component materials.
EDTA also supports efforts to strengthen and diversify the battery
supply chain and expand advanced manufacturing capacity in the U.S. We
support the Department's initiatives to fund R&D for advanced battery
materials and the use of ATVM loans to build, update, re-tool, and
expand manufacturing facilities to support this domestic imperative.
DOE's portfolio of electrification programs is vital to addressing
these emissions, security and competitiveness challenges. Specifically,
DOE's Vehicle Technologies Program is a critical element of the
national effort to decarbonize transportation, leveraging private
sector investments to promote innovation in advanced vehicles,
infrastructure and manufacturing chains. The program advances research
in batteries and power electronics, electric drive motors, components
and charging technologies. Increased range, reduced costs, and improved
performance are battery advances supported by the Battery and Electric
Drive Technology subprogram. Critical supporting infrastructure,
including charging systems and codes and standards for communication
with the grid, are being developed in the Vehicle Systems Simulation &
Testing program.
The Vehicle Technologies Program is also advancing electric
alternatives in commercial vehicles. The truck and transit segment is
projected to grow rapidly in the next two decades. Research,
demonstration, and deployment of electric drive technologies for
combination tractors, heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans and vocational
vehicle technologies' systems and components will speed technology
breakthroughs and contribute to cost reductions while providing public
health benefits and energy cost savings throughout the economy.
The SuperTruck 3 Program is an important part of this effort. We
support increased program investment in Class 7 and Class 8 vehicles,
which are a significant part of the commercial fleet. An expanded
program should continue to engage partners from across the
manufacturing chain--chassis original equipment manufacturers,
intermediate and final stage manufacturers, including hybrid system
suppliers, and infrastructure providers--to improve performance in
vocational vehicles.
Through the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, DOE is
working with industry to accelerate the availability of fuel cell
electric vehicles, which are essential zero-emission options in the
transportation portfolio. Three light-duty fuel cell vehicles are
commercially available today, with several new models planned for
release through 2023, including buses and trucks in the medium- and
heavy-duty segment. At the same time, hydrogen fueling infrastructure
is being built out as a critical component of this emerging market.
The Department's recently announced Hydrogen Shot is an important
program to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen to advance the deployment
of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles. Developing lower
costing carbon-free hydrogen is a critical step in cutting emissions
for long-haul trucking, last mile delivery vehicles, light-duty
passenger vehicles, and other industrial applications. Hydrogen Shot's
goal of achieving $1 per kilogram for clean carbon--an 80% reduction--
will help create good-paying jobs while supporting American innovation.
We ask that the Subcommittee continue its record of support for
these programs, particularly in vehicle and infrastructure deployment
activities and in early market development, education, validation and
enabling activities. At this early market juncture, public/private
collaborations are especially important in accelerating technology
development and private infrastructure investment.
ARPA-E has advanced pre-commercial technologies such as Robust
Affordable Next Generation Energy Storage Systems (RANGE) and Batteries
for Electrical Energy Storage in Transportation (BEEST) that improve
performance and reduce costs of batteries. The program can also
expedite innovation in critical materials, secondary uses and recycling
of batteries. ARPA-E's role is essential in overcoming high-risk
technological barriers that the private sector may not attempt in the
early stages of research and development.
Similarly, ARPA-C would develop technologies to help move the U.S.
toward a net zero economy by 2050. This new initiative's focus on zero-
emission vehicles and transit systems, carbon-free hydrogen, and energy
storage are key levers in achieving net zero emissions. Reducing
emissions across all segments of the economy will benefit all
communities, especially low-income and BIPOC communities who are
disproportionately affected by poor air quality.
As the Administration has highlighted with its procurement goals,
the federal government can lead the electrification of transportation,
reducing the fleet's energy costs and its carbon footprint. At the same
time, government purchasing power will reinforce private investment in
infrastructure, and promote the development of advanced power and
storage solutions that maximize the potential of electric vehicles as a
grid asset.
EDTA also strongly supports the Clean Cities program. Clean Cities
works with nearly 100 local and regional coalitions to expand
deployment of electric drive and alternative fuel cars and trucks and
recharging/fueling infrastructure. These voluntary and locally driven
efforts have a demonstrated record of success, including the cumulative
displacement of more than 8.5 billion gallons of petroleum with
alternative fuels since the program began in 1993.
We appreciate the Committee's long-standing support for the
important research, development and deployment programs at Department
of Energy. These programs will play an even more critical role in
achieving the Administration's goals for net-zero emissions by 2050 and
in speeding the electrification of the transportation sector. We
respectfully request that appropriations for FY2022 reflect the
magnitude of our national energy, economic and environmental challenges
and the enormous opportunities to address them through electric
transportation innovation.
Thank you for your consideration.
[This statement was submitted by Genevieve Cullen, President,
Electric Drive Transportation Association.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
We, the undersigned, write today to urge you to support robust
energy efficiency investments at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Investing in
energy efficiency is an investment not only in reducing energy costs
for consumers and businesses across the nation; it is an investment in
domestic job creation, manufacturing, competitiveness, and innovation.
Energy efficiency improves energy affordability, security, reliability,
and resilience; it achieves these outcomes by simply doing more with
less. Today, the United States uses two-thirds less energy than it
would otherwise consume without the investments in energy efficiency
since 1980, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy.
Energy efficiency is a workhorse, leading the clean energy sector
at more than 2 million jobs, down from nearly 2.4 million prior to the
pandemic. Energy efficiency jobs are located in 99.7% of counties
across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Energy efficiency
jobs support families, with workers earning 28% more than the national
median, according to Environmental Entrepreneurs, and cannot be
exported. Furthermore, EERE RDD&D programs enable cost-effective
emissions reductions and energy affordability through innovative
partnerships and focused deployment programs that shepherd emerging
technologies from concept to market, enabling cost reductions for
businesses and consumers, and achieving critical scale needed to avoid
the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
We respectfully request FY2022 regular appropriations funding for
the following DOE programs:
Buildings Technologies (BTO): $530 million to develop innovative,
cost-effective technologies, tools, and solutions that help U.S.
homeowners, consumers, and businesses achieve peak energy efficiency
performance in their buildings across all sectors of our economy.
Robust funding is needed for:
--Residential Buildings Integration (RBI): $80 million for DOE to
collaborate with the residential building industry to improve
the energy efficiency of both new and existing homes. RBI
develops critical technologies, tools, and solutions that help
U.S. consumers and businesses achieve peak efficiency
performance in residential buildings across the country. RBI's
work supports workforce development and training and has
partnerships with thousands of small businesses in this sector,
the construction trades, equipment, smart grid technology and
systems suppliers, integrators, and state and local
governments. The integration research, demonstration and market
transformation activities of RBI are critical as we transform
America's new and existing residential buildings and work
towards the Administration's goal of weatherizing 2 million
homes.
--Commercial Building Integration (CBI): $80 million for the
program's research, development, and evaluation, to help
advance a range of innovative building technologies and
solutions, paving the way for high performing buildings that
could use between 50% and 70% less energy than typical
buildings. CBI works with industry, small businesses, academia,
the national labs, and other entities to advance energy
efficiency solutions and technologies for commercial buildings.
The program, which considers buildings as systems and as part
of the electric grid, continues to be transformative in moving
industry partners to embrace innovation.
--Efficiency Standards, Building Codes, and Test Procedures: $60
million for appliance standards and $100 million for the
Building Energy Codes Program. DOE is responsible for setting
minimum energy efficiency standards for appliances, equipment,
and lighting to ensure new models continue to make progress on
efficiency as technology matures. The Department is far behind
in issuing new appliance standards, making an increased focus
critical. DOE plays an important support and technical
assistance role in the development and implementation of
building energy codes, which are adopted by states and local
governments for new construction and renovations of residential
and commercial buildings, that reflect developments in building
energy efficiency and ``lock in'' savings for the life of the
building. Education, training, and technical assistance have
been woefully underfunded over the past several years and can
be very impactful in assisting in codes' adoption and effective
implementation.
--Emerging Technologies (ET): $160 million for the program to enable
cost-effective, energy-efficient technologies to be developed
and introduced into the marketplace. ET funds and directs
applied research and development (R&D) for technologies and
tools that support building energy efficiency, particularly
electric technologies for a carbon free grid.
--Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB): $50 million for DOE to
ensure that a high level of energy efficiency is a core element
of this new crosscutting program and a baseline characteristic
for GEBs which are also connected, smart, and flexible. The
Office should engage with the public and private sectors,
including the building and manufacturing industries and state
and local governments, to share information on GEB
technologies, costs, and benefits, and to provide information
to position American companies to lead in this area. Funding
for demonstrations and deployment programs such as Connected
Communities, the Low Carbon Buildings Pilot, and other BTO
deployment activities is encouraged.
Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO): $800 million to enable the
research, development, demonstration and deployment of industrial
energy efficiency and advanced manufacturing technologies. This level
of funding is intended to accommodate and ambitious agenda of
decarbonizing U.S. manufacturing by midcentury. This goal of dramatic
reductions requires increases in activity level across the office and
some important changes in the orientation of the office's goals. AMO
should expand its efforts from promoting energy efficiency to include
efforts to reduce carbon emissions for manufacturing and reduce the
embodied carbon in manufactured products. Additionally, as AMO rebuilds
its staffing, the office should focus on adding expertise in important
decarbonization technology areas identified in its research road
mapping.
--Energy Management: $10 million for efforts to promote Strategic
Energy Management practices and $30 million for the
establishment of a program to provide competitive grants to
companies for the hiring or designation of plant energy
managers. For Strategic Energy Management, AMO should focus
efforts on small- and medium-sized manufacturing plants.
--Save Carbon Now: $55 million for the Better Plants program to
expand that program to offer comprehensive assessment and
engagements to the 1,500 largest greenhouse gas emitting
manufacturing facilities. These engagements shall include, but
not be limited to, targeted assessments, staff training,
technical analyses of opportunities, and education.
--Industrial Assessment Centers: $25 million for the Industrial
Assessment Centers (IAC) program to expand that program in
order to increase the number of university-based centers to 40;
to establish satellite centers at community colleges, technical
schools, and union training facilities; and to establish an
apprenticeship program with matching funding for IAC students
at facilities that have received assessments in the recent past
to facilitate the implementation of recommendations.
--Flex Tech: $40 million for the establishment of a program that
provides competitive grants to states and tribal governments in
partnership with educational institutions and trade
associations to provide assessments of energy and greenhouse
gas (GHG) reducing measures and loans to implement those
measures to medium sized manufacturers.
--Transformative Technology Adoption: $100 million for the
establishment of a competitive grant program that provides
cost-share payments to manufacturing sites or consortiums that
make first-three, at-scale implementation of transformative
technologies to reduce GHG emissions in the most GHG-intensive
manufacturing processes as determined by the Secretary.
--Existing Low-Carbon Technology: $60 million for the establishment
of a competitive grant program to provide cost-share payments
to manufacturing plants for the installation of underutilized
existing low-carbon technologies.
--Smart Manufacturing: $30 million for support of the development and
adoption of smart manufacturing practices directed towards
small and medium-sized manufacturers. This includes, but is not
limited to, expanded funding for the Clean Energy Smart
Manufacturing Innovative Institute (CESMII) to increase
educational and technical assistance activities directed toward
smart manufacturing adoption.
--Industrial Process Heating Decarbonization: $55 million for the
establishment of a research, development, and deployment effort
by AMO to develop and promote the adoption of technologies that
can dramatically reduce the GHG emissions from process heating
applications. Efforts may include the establishment of one or
more new Manufacturing USA Innovation Institutes that might
focus on electrification and/or hydrogen and low-carbon fuels.
Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP): At least $56 million to
provide project and policy support to all federal agencies, including
$2 million for the Performance Based Contract National Resource
Initiative and at least $20 million for the AFFECT grant program. With
minimal funding, FEMP supports all agencies of the Federal government
in their quest to save energy and money for the American taxpayer while
improving agency infrastructure and addressing deferred maintenance.
FEMP is at the forefront of efforts to improve federal building energy
performance, which is accomplished in part by accessing and leveraging
private capital in performance contracts. The additional private
capital has been used to finance hundreds of projects across two dozen
agencies, creating 30,000 jobs and reducing energy outlays by $8
billion over the next 18 years. Note: Our request for AFFECT represents
a minimum funding request for FY22 as the initial installment towards
the President's request of $400 million for AFFECT, which we strongly
support. AFFECT provides small grants to federal agencies to maximize
their retrofits through performance contracting. AFFECT leverages at
least $10 for every federal grant dollar invested, thereby maximizing
federal infrastructure investments and addressing backlog maintenance.
Weatherization (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP): $477 million.
Within this amount, at least $325 million is recommended for WAP, with
$10 million for training and technical assistance at DOE, and $21
million for the new Weatherization Readiness Fund. At least $121
million is recommended for State Energy Program grants including $25
million to be used for energy and related air quality in schools. At
least $90 million of the SEP funds shall be utilized for direct formula
grants to the states, with $6 million for technical assistance. Since
1976, WAP has helped make more than 8 million homes more efficient,
saving the average recipient about $4,200 over the lifetime of their
home. R&D investments will continue to make emerging technologies
cheaper and more accessible, but DOE's Weatherization Assistance
Program is particularly important for bringing energy efficiency to
communities and families that need it most. According to the Energy
Information costs, while over 12 million households report being unable
to use their heating or cooling equipment. The Weatherization Readiness
Fund will provide critical repairs to prepare homes for weatherization
while increased training and technical assistance will empower DOE to
implement modernized and innovative practices. Each WAP dollar produces
$4.50 in benefits, including energy savings as well as improved health
and safety. Federal weatherization assistance also helps workers and
small businesses, directly supporting more than 8,500 jobs and
supporting thousands more in related industries. SEP leverages over $10
for every federal dollar invested and saves over $7 for every federal
dollar invested. In addition to energy efficiency and renewable energy
programs, SEP is critical for dealing with cyber security and energy
emergency preparedness and response. SEP is extremely flexible and is
the basis for a variety of partnership programs.
U.S. Energy & Employment Report (USEER): $2 million for the Office
of Policy to complete the annual U.S. energy employment report that
includes a comprehensive statistical survey to collect data, publish
the data and provide a summary report. The information collected will
include data related to employment figures and demographics in the U.S.
energy sector. The report presents a unique snapshot of energy
efficiency employment in key sectors of the economy, including
construction and manufacturing.
Energy Information Administration: $135 million to continue
important data collection, analysis, and reporting activities on energy
use and consumption including the Commercial Buildings Energy
Consumption Survey and the Residential Buildings Energy Consumption
Survey.
We would urge the Subcommittee to consider additional funding
either through regular appropriations or supplemental funding in the
event an energy/infrastructure package is considered.
In the event that opportunity presents itself, we would urge the
Subcommittee to consider the following additional items:
--Title VI of the House-passed, FY21 House Energy and Water
Development Appropriations Bill as a starting point to fund the
State Energy Program (SEP)($730 million--$3.8 billion if
adjusted for inflation from the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act [ARRA]) (for base, formula funds),
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)($3.25 billion--$6.2
billion if adjusted for inflation from ARRA) and the Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) ($2.25
billion--$3.9 billion if adjusted for inflation from ARRA)
(distributed via the statutory formula, with an increase for
the competitive fund);
--Federal Energy Management Program's (FEMP) incremental AFFECT grant
funding if not fully funded in annual appropriations as
requested in the President's FY22 Budget Request of $400
million;
--Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) large manufacturing energy
audits and tech assistance ($1 billion over ten years),
establishment of a program at DOE to support the hiring of
energy managers by paying a portion of annual salary costs ($1
billion over ten years), and a federal program to provide
grants to states to fund follow-up project implementation
following assessments ($1 billion over ten years);
--Building Technology Office (increase to $100 million for building
energy codes training and technical assistance and an increase
of $50 million for grid interactive efficient buildings);
--HOPE for HOMES program to advance workforce training and
residential retrofit rebates supported by the President's
Budget Request ($2 billion); and
--``Open Back Better'' (Smith/Blunt-Rochester legislation to fund
resilience upgrades at mission-critical facilities with private
financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy
investments), which is scalable and could be implemented
through the existing SEP and AFFECT programs.
We stand ready to work with Congress, the White House, and federal
agencies, to identify ways the U.S. can improve the affordability and
access of energy-efficient technologies, unlock utility savings for
consumers, reduce energy-related carbon emissions, and improve public
health.
Sincerely.
A. O. Smith
Acuity Brands Lighting Inc.
Alliance to Save Energy
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
Building Performance Association (BPA)
Digital Climate Alliance (DCA)
E4TheFuture
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Federal Performance Contracting Coalition
Intel Corporation
International Copper Association
Institute for Market Transformation (IMT)
National Association of State Community Services Programs (NASCSP)
National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA)
Schneider Electric
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
Uplight
______
Prepared Statement of the Federal Energy Management Program
Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Shelby, and members of the
Subcommittee, as you deliberate on the important programs to be funded
in the FY22 appropriations bills, we respectfully request that $36
million be allocated to the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) in
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at the
Department of Energy (DOE) with an additional $400 million designated
to the FEMP Federal Energy Efficiency Fund (FEEF), also known as AFFECT
grants.
We also request the following report language be included:
``The Committee directs FEMP to prioritize the full amount
allocated to the Federal Energy Efficiency Fund (FEEF) (formally
referred to as AFFECT) to continue to be used to leverage private
sector investment in federal infrastructure to ensure maximum overall
investment in resiliency, efficiency, emissions reductions and
security. Funding should be directed to projects that achieve a 5-1
return for each federal dollar through public-private partnerships like
energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and utility energy service
contracts (UESCs).''
The President's FY22 Budget request included $400 million to be
FEMP with an increase in the funding for FEEF. The FPCC recommends that
this funding continue to be leveraged with performance contracting to
address resiliency, backlog maintenance, critical upgrade and
maintenance needs, and other infrastructure on our federal sites such
as military bases, VA hospitals and GSA building. The FPCC knows that
we can address such critical infrastructure needs using much less
dedicated federal dollars through performance contracting and the FEEF
program facilitates just that.
The FPCC believes that using smaller amounts of appropriated
dollars for particular priorities such as cybersecurity and resiliency
will net more: more dollars invested in the federal government, more
resiliency, more savings over time, and more attention to operations
and maintenance, and replacement costs. In fact, fewer dollars can be
appropriated overall if they are leveraged with private sector dollars
allowing not only the ability to focus precious federal resources on
mission, but also transferring the risk of projects to the private
sector. With this increase in the FEEF program, hundreds of additional
buildings and facilities across the agencies can utilize grants to make
reduce the carbon emissions from its facilities and make these
buildings more efficient.
FEMP is the appropriate place for these dollars as they will be
available to leverage performance contracting for all federal agencies.
For the past several years, FEMP has provided small amounts of
appropriated dollars to leverage performance contracting through the
AFFECT Grant program. The $11 million appropriated in FY2020 was
invested in 16 projects that when combined with the investment from the
private sector could surpass $439 million. These projects, which focus
on new technologies and resiliency, will help agencies across the
federal government address backlog maintenance, which the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) estimates is $169 billion government wide.
It would specifically address the $9-15 billion in energy related
backlog maintenance already identified in Congressionally mandated
audits (EISA 2007, Section 432), which must now be addressed after the
passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2020 included as part of the
omnibus package.
FEMP, with very minimal funding, supports all agencies of the
federal government in their quest to save energy and money for the
American taxpayer while improving aging infrastructure and addressing
deferred maintenance. The most significant activity of FEMP, and that
which utilizes most of its funding, is to support performance
contracting throughout the government.
In an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) or Utility Energy
Savings Contract (UESC), the private sector works with the government
customer to develop a project, but then the private company implements
that project, measures and verifies savings every year, and guarantees
that the savings will accrue. The private sector is repaid out of these
guaranteed utility bill savings allowing for no added expenditures by
the federal government. Since inception, ESPCs have achieved over $20
billion in guaranteed energy savings across the federal government.
FEMP's role in this is instrumental. It provides the overall
contract for ease of use for agencies, technical and financial
assistance, and training for personnel in all federal agencies.
Additionally, FEMP provides life of contract oversight for every single
ESPC during the performance period. Because agencies are reducing
personnel, this is a critical function and was cited as such by the
Heritage Foundation in a recent report as a necessary FEMP role.
Utilizing performance contracting to address infrastructure
improvements instead of using appropriations funds for direct services
is a commonsense approach that reduces risk to the federal government
and ensures that projects are well managed since the private sector
partner must guarantee performance to get paid.
Over the past few years, when appropriated dollars have been
scarce, FEMP funding has leveraged between $800 million and $1.4
billion in private investment in federal infrastructure with no added
cost to the federal government, using money from existing funding
streams. A 2013 report by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
titled Beyond Guaranteed Savings: Additional Cost Savings Associated
with ESPC Projects found that for a typical ESPC the actual cost
savings to the federal government is 174% to 197% of the guaranteed
savings by the contractor.
The members of Federal Performance Contracting Coalition (ABM,
AECOM, Ameresco, Constellation, CEG Solutions, Energy Systems Group,
Honeywell, Johnson Controls Inc., Noresco, Siemens, Schneider Electric,
SitelogIQ, Southland Energy, and Trane (an Ingersoll Rand company) know
firsthand how impactful ESPCs are in saving energy costs, taxpayer
money, and creating jobs in every state in the country. Our members
represent approximately 95% of the Energy Savings Performance Contracts
(ESPCs) in federal facilities.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
[This statement was submitted by Ms. Jennifer Schafer, Executive
Director,
Federal Energy Management Program.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Federation of American Societies for
Experimental Biology
summary
Federal investments in fundamental research have led to remarkable
progress in the biological and biomedical sciences. Basic research was
the groundwork for the speed--months instead of years--in the
development of COVID-19 vaccines, and pre-clinical research, such as
animal studies, has been essential to every step of achieving medical
progress.
Despite Congress' bipartisan support for investing in science,
federal funding for research has not kept pace, posing a threat to our
nation's competitiveness. We face a real threat of losing our edge in
industries such as biotechnology if we do not prioritize increasing
investments in science and building a diverse workforce.\1\ The U.S.
spends less on research and development (R&D) than many countries. If
the U.S. is to be prepared to respond to future threats, our scientific
leadership must progress. According to Science Is Us, there is the
added benefit of jobs. STEM supports 69 percent of U.S. gross domestic
product, touches two out of three workers, and generates $2.3 trillion
in tax revenue.\2\
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\1\ NSF Science Indicators 2018.
\2\ STEM and the American Workforce. You've heard it before: STEM
jobs--...by Science is US Medium.
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The federal government should commit to robust, predictable, and
sustained funding increases for science agencies.
the doe office of science
The DOE Office of Science (SC) is the nation's largest funder of
basic physical sciences research. Transformative innovations and
technologies can be traced to its work, including solar cells,
superconductors, and nanotechnology.
Agencies like NIH, NSF, and DOE SC work in concert to advance
research in key areas including artificial intelligence and genomics.
SC supports the network of DOE national laboratories and builds and
operates the most sophisticated, world-class scientific user facilities
used by over 34,000 researchers from universities, industry, and other
federal agencies. National Labs were integral to the creation of the
National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory and the COVID-19 High
Performance Computing Consortium that brought together the best minds
to address Covid.
Recent budget increases have allowed the office to proceed with key
facility upgrades. However, for the U.S. to remain at the forefront of
science and technology, Congress must sustain and expand DOE SC
infrastructure investments. A FY 2022 budget of $7.4 billion ($380
million above FY 2021) would enable continued critical facilities
upgrades and support pathbreaking research in emerging areas such as
quantum science.
FASEB FY 2022 recommendation: at least $7.4 billion for DOE SC.
[This statement was submitted by Ellen Kuo, Associate Director,
Legislative
Affairs, FASEB.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association
Chairwoman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and members of the
Committee, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to discuss the
funding priorities of the fuel cell and hydrogen industry for Fiscal
Year 2022. My name is Morry Markowitz and I serve as the President of
the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA). FCHEA is the
national trade association representing nearly 60 leading companies and
organizations that are advancing innovative, clean, safe, and reliable
fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. FCHEA member organizations
represent the full global supply chain for hydrogen and fuel cells,
including automakers; material, component, stack and system
manufacturers; hydrogen producers and energy companies; trade
associations; utilities; and end users. Collectively, our members
employ hundreds of thousands of people across the country. On behalf of
the members of FCHEA, our organization is requesting $300 million for
hydrogen and fuel cell activities managed by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
Technologies Office (HFTO) within the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE) for hydrogen fuel and infrastructure research
and development, fuel cell research and development, market
transformation and technology acceleration activities, the H2@Scale
initiative, safety, codes, and standards initiatives for vehicle and
infrastructure safety, and advanced fuel cell and hydrogen component
manufacturing. FCHEA requests $100 million for EERE's Advanced
Manufacturing Office (AMO) to work in conjunction with HFTO on large-
scale hydrogen production, fuel cell supply chain, infrastructure
supply, on-site hydrogen production, and hydrogen for industrial
applications such as materials production and as an alternative heating
source for industrial processes. FCHEA additionally requests $160
million for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) activities and fossil-based
hydrogen within the Office of Fossil Energy (FE), with $50 million
reserved for the SOFC Program, and $15 million reserved for the Office
of Oil and Natural Gas. This funding is vital to completing work on
fuel cell technologies deployed around the country, as well as fueling
the transition from fossil sources to renewable hydrogen. Finally,
recognizing the versatility and numerous applications of hydrogen and
fuel cells, FCHEA request specific language directing the Department of
Energy to coordinate hydrogen and fuel cell funding across its
different offices to ensure the maximum effectiveness of funding.
Fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies are capable of
significantly contributing to the widespread decarbonization of
transportation, power generation, heating, and industrial markets,
while providing economic growth through investments and jobs. A recent
report by McKinsey and Company, Road Map to a US Hydrogen Economy,
determined that the hydrogen sector has the potential to generate
700,000 jobs and $140 billion in revenue by 2030. By 2050, that
economic impact could grow to 3.4 million jobs, $750 billion in
revenue, 16% reductions CO2 emissions, 36% reduction in
NOx emissions, and account for 14% of US energy demand.
Fuel cells generate electricity through a combustion-free
electrochemical reaction with hydrogen, with the sole byproduct being
water vapor. Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly fuel, and when
used in a fuel cell or as feedstock in an industrial process, there are
no carbon, NOx, SOx, or particulate matter
emissions. When hydrogen is generated from renewable or low-carbon
sources--such as wind, solar, biomethane, or natural gas with carbon
capture and sequestration--carbon emissions are either completely or
nearly eliminated, or carbon negative.
Today there are nearly 10,000 light-duty, zero-emission fuel cell
vehicles (FCVs) operating in California offered by major automakers,
with more companies planning to enter the marketplace in the near-
future. Fuel cell cars are the only vehicles capable of replicating
today's driving experience of a 300 to 400-mile range on a single tank
of fuel along with refueling in just three to five minutes. Beyond
light-duty cars, fuel cells are being used across the country in more
than 40,000 forklifts, dozens of buses, and several demonstrations of
Class 7 and 8 trucks. Due to the scalability of fuel cells, hard-to-
decarbonize markets such as medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, aviation,
and maritime applications are looking to fuel cells as a zero-emission
alternative for power. McKinsey's US Hydrogen Road Map suggests that by
2030, the fuel cell industry has the capability of reaching 1,200,000
FCV sales, 4,300 hydrogen fueling stations, and $8 billion in annual
investments in the United States.
Fuel cells are also enhancing our capacity, efficiency, and
reliability of our overall energy system. Stationary fuel cells are
commercially available with over 550 megawatts of systems deployed
across the country today at power utility substations, data centers,
cell phone towers, corporate headquarters, schools, universities,
hospitals, and more. Fuel cells are able to provide distributed, clean
primary power to fill needs when renewable power is intermittent, as
well as improve the reliability and stability of an electric grid with
a high penetration of renewable power generation. Fuel cell systems
generate 24/7, clean, load-following power at close to 100% capacity
factors. Compared to other front-of-the-meter distributed energy
resources (DER), the combination of fuel cell high efficiency and
extremely high-capacity factor results in the displacement of more GHG
emissions than equivalent-sized intermittent resources.
Hydrogen is increasingly being viewed as the first viable avenue
for long-term and large-scale seasonal energy storage. Hydrogen energy
storage is a process wherein the surplus of energy created by
renewables during low energy demand periods is used to power
electrolysis, a process in which an electrical current is passed
through water to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen can be stored in large
quantities for weeks or months at a time for later use in a variety of
energy applications. The International Energy Agency predicts that
hydrogen generated from wind will be cheaper than natural gas by 2030.
While the fuel cell and hydrogen industry has been gaining
significant momentum in recent years, this progress could not have been
possible without the support and partnership from the Department of
Energy's fuel cell and hydrogen programs. America is currently the
world leader in fuel cell technologies, however that gap is quickly
tightening due to government interest abroad. 2020 saw one of the
greatest increases of hydrogen interest across the globe, with
countries from in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America
releasing dedicated national hydrogen strategies along with committing
billions of dollars to developing and deploying hydrogen and fuel
cells. For example, Germany plans to invest =9 billion ( $11 billion)
into its hydrogen economy, and France has pledged =2 billion ( $2.4
billion). Spain, Finland, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands,
Australia, South Korea, Japan, Chile, Canada, India, and China have all
committed to a hydrogen future through new policies or the release of
hydrogen strategies. The European Commission's hydrogen strategy calls
for the installation of 6 gigawatts of renewable hydrogen electrolyzers
by 2024, and 40 gigawatts by 2030. It is important that America
recognizes the importance of hydrogen technologies, as other countries
have, and massively scale up investments or we could risk ceding our
technology leadership abroad.
Immense progress has been made to date through the collaboration of
industry and the DOE through HFTO. The cutting-edge research developed
through DOE funding has led to more than 730 hydrogen and fuel cell
patents, including more than 30 commercial technologies such as fuel
cell catalysts, high-pressure hydrogen tanks, electrolyzers and low
carbon hydrogen production, and fuel cell system components. DOE-funded
research has also cut the cost of automotive fuel cells by 60% in the
last decade, quadrupled durability to over 120,000 miles, cut
electrolyzer stack costs by 80% since 2002. We are excited by Biden
administration's interest in hydrogen and our industry looks forward to
working with DOE to on the recently announced Hydrogen Energy Earthshot
Initiative to accelerate reductions in the cost of hydrogen.
Further support is still needed for early, middle, and late-stage
development, demonstration, and deployment activities to help industry
clear the remaining technical and regulatory barriers to accelerated
adoption of fuel cells and hydrogen energy, and to ensure the
incorporation of these technologies into a grander clean energy plan to
combat the climate crisis. FCHEA is grateful for the past support that
the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee has
given to DOE's hydrogen and fuel cell programs. While the funding
levels requested are a significant increase from previous years, we
believe now is the time to double down on hydrogen and fuel cell
technologies to launch the technology into the mainstream. It is
crucial that hydrogen and fuel cells are adequately funded so that they
may become an integral component of America's climate and economic
strategy. We urge the Subcommittee, under your bipartisan leadership,
to continue this support with our FY 2022 appropriations request and
ensure the long-term success of our innovative, sustainable energy
industry. By supporting continued development fuel cell and hydrogen
technologies, America can both mitigate the causes of climate change,
while supporting our economic future and maintaining our nation's
energy technology leadership. Thank you for your consideration.
[This statement was submitted by Morry B. Markowitz, President,
Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Grand Valley Water Users Association
My name is Mark Harris. I am the General Manager of the Grand
Valley Water Users Association in Grand Junction, Colorado. We are
deeply involved with the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery
Program. We are requesting your support for appropriations in the
President's recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of
Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River
Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery
Implementation Program. The budget items and amounts requested in the
President's budget for these programs are described below.
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President 's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes:
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream
flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and
conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and
stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and
research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to
guide decision making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake
Powell.
We appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
[This statement was submitted by Mark Harris, General Manager,
Grand Valley Water Users Association.]
______
Prepared Statement of Hannon Armstrong
As a leading investor in climate solutions, including energy
efficiency, renewable energy and other sustainable infrastructure
projects, Hannon Armstrong respectfully urges your support for funding
the Federal Energy Management Program (``FEMP''), an important program
that oversees and facilitates the implementation of Energy Savings
Performance Contract (ESPC) and Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC)
activities, which are currently contemplated in the Fiscal Year (FY)
2022 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. We urge you to
support an increase in funding for FEMP in FY22.
Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI) has 40 years of experience in
sustainable infrastructure financing. We specialize in providing
preferred or senior level capital to established sponsors and high-
credit quality obligors, such as U.S. federal, state and local
governments, Global 1000 corporations and private developers, for
assets that generate long-term, recurring and predictable cash flows.
Our company provides and arranges debt and equity financing for a
broad range energy efficiency projects that reduce energy usage or the
cost of energy use. We often work with global energy service companies
(ESCOs), which design and install improvements to various building
components, including HVAC systems, lighting, energy controls, roofs,
windows and/or building shells. We originate many of our transactions
through programmatic finance relationships with ESCOs as well as
renewable energy manufacturers, developers, and operators who own and
operate renewable energy projects, including a number of U.S. utility
companies.
In December 2020, we announced that the company has exceeded $6
billion in energy efficiency investments from more than 600 individual
transactions with leading behind-the-meter energy service companies
serving federal, state, local and commercial energy efficiency markets
since 2000. Hannon Armstrong's total investments in energy efficiency
projects have an average CarbonCount(r) score of 0.38 metric tons of
CO2 equivalent (``CO2e'') emissions avoided annually per $1,000
invested, as well as a WaterCount(tm) score of 658 gallons of water
consumption avoided annually for every $1,000 invested. The estimated
21.2 million tons of CO2e avoided emissions over 20 years is equivalent
to the amount of CO2e emissions from 116,390 rail cars of coal, which
would stretch from Annapolis, Md. to Kansas City, Mo. when linked end
to end. The 36.3 billion gallons of water consumption saved by these
investments over the same period could fill three bathtubs for every
person in the United States.
the numerous benefits of espcs
ESPCs are a highly effective public-private partnership model to
improve building energy efficiency. In this budget-neutral approach,
future guaranteed energy savings are used to pay the financing cost of
facility upgrades. Federal ESPCs have been one of the most efficient
and successful programs reducing energy use and carbon emissions while
improving resiliency in the federal built environment. ESPCs allow
federal agencies to procure energy savings and facility improvements
with no up-front capital costs or special appropriations from Congress.
Studies by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory show that, on average,
actual cost savings exceed guaranteed savings for federal ESPC
projects.\1\ Projects under the FEMP ESPC program reported achieving
14.155 million MMBtu in energy savings in FY2019, outperforming
estimates.\2\
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\1\ https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/12/f58/
2016_savings_espcs.pdf.
\2\ https://info.ornl.gov/sites/publications/Files/Pub150841.pdf.
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ESPCs and UESCs enable agencies to procure energy services and
projects without relying solely on appropriated funds to replace,
operate, and maintain aging energy-using equipment. At no added cost to
the government, ESPCs and UESCs assist agencies and installations in
reducing their energy intensity, saving taxpayer dollars and in many
cases improving mission readiness. These innovative contracts also
require the assurance of financial savings.
ESPCs and UESCs have also resulted in the creation of thousands of
local and un-exportable jobs. According to the Federal Performance
Contracting Coalition (FPCC), for every $10 million of investment in
ESPCs and UESCs an estimated 95 high paying jobs are created. 40 of
these jobs are created in the manufacturing sector, 35 jobs are created
with subcontractors and installers and finally, 20 of the 95 jobs
created are with the ESCOs.
ESPC and UESC contracts are excellent examples of the federal
government leveraging private capital. With more than 350,000 energy-
using buildings and structures representing nearly 2.4 billion square
feet of facilities, the federal government is our nation's largest
energy consumer. Federal agencies have a tremendous opportunity and an
obligation to reduce energy and water use in their operations.
According to the most current data from the Department of Energy, there
are nearly $8 billion in identified energy conservation measures for
federal agencies, which would save the government almost $800 million a
year in energy and water-related costs. Implementing these measures
would avoid approximately 3 million metric tons of CO2e emissions
annually.
ESPCs can and should be used to leverage private sector dollars--
this allows important and often mission critical projects to be
accomplished with far less taxpayer dollars. ESPCs often have a very
strong return on investment, as well as a host of additional benefits,
including accelerated project timelines, reduced energy infrastructure
costs, and low-cost financing. The budget-neutrality of ESPCs ensure
financial stability in both the short- and long-term. Agencies should
prioritize leveraging private sector financing to take full advantage
of these numerous benefits, creating jobs while saving taxpayer dollars
and improving facility performance.
As the federal program responsible for providing services to enable
all agencies to implement successful ESPC and UESC projects, FEMP
provides crucial assistance, guidance, and training. We therefore
strongly urge funding of $36 million for FEMP so it may continue its
vital work to cut energy waste and increase efficiency across the
federal government through the public-private partnerships required
under ESPCs and UESCs. Of that funding, we request $2 million to
support the Performance Contracting National Resource Center (PCNRC), a
hub within FEMP housing all of DOE's best practice resources and
solutions for ESPCs. We also request $400 million for the Assisting
Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT)
program within FEMP, in alignment with President Biden's budget
request-as long as it continues to leverage private financing to get
the greatest return on investment for the American taxpayer. The AFFECT
program increases resilience and cybersecurity in Federal performance
contracts by leveraging private capital. AFFECT grants can be used to
help fund those energy related measures that typically have very long
paybacks but, when included with an ESPC, can create a deep retrofit
and enhanced resiliency for federal agencies. The Biden FY22 Budget
request prioritizes deep retrofits under AFFECT, in accordance with
these aims.
The AFFECT grant program supports agency projects that spur energy
generation, energy efficiency, and energy storage projects across the
country. In 2020, the program distributed $11 million in grants to 16
federal agency projects, which will lead to a total investment of over
$439 million.\3\ The FY22 funding for FEMP would increase support of
ESPCs, which are a cost-effective way to make much needed upgrades and
increase resiliency of vital federal assets, including military
facilities. FEMP's most important effort is the coordinated and defined
program management of ESPCs for federal agencies. FEMP staff help
agencies use ESPCs in several ways: advising agencies on scoping,
procurement, and performance requirements for energy conservation
measures (ECMs); helping agencies select third-party ESCOs; finalizing
contracting terms and project approval; and monitoring project
implementation and performance.
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\3\ https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/2020-assisting-federal-
facilities-energy-conservation-technologies-affect-federal-agency.
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FEMP is at the forefront of efforts to improve federal building
energy performance, which is accomplished in part by accessing and
leveraging private capital in performance contracts. The additional
private capital has been used to finance hundreds of projects across
two dozen agencies, creating 30,000 jobs and reducing energy outlays by
$8 billion over the next 18 years. As mentioned, the President
requested $400 million for AFFECT via the Federal Energy Efficiency
Fund--which could be used to leverage at least 10 dollars for every
federal grant dollar invested--and is critical to tackling the backlog
of needed maintenance in our federal infrastructure, while also leading
by example and addressing climate change through supporting clean
energy in buildings.
FEMP is the program ma-nager for the critical ESPC contracting tool
used by federal agencies for the implementation of ESPCs--the
Department of Energy, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity, Energy
Savings Performance Contract (DOE IDIQ ESPC). These contracts have
historically been instrumental in achieving the aforementioned energy
and cost savings as well as the job creation outcomes for the nation.
Since the inception of the DOE IDIQ ESPCs in 1998, 431 projects have
been awarded and approximately $7.66 billion has been invested in
federal energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements. These
improvements have resulted in approximately 618.7 trillion Btu in life
cycle energy savings and $17.53 billion in cumulative energy cost
savings for the federal government.\4\
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\4\ https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/awarded-doe-idiq-energy-
savings-performance-contract-projects.
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Fiscal year 2020 was the most successful year in the history of the
DOE IDIQ ESPC program with a record $842 million total project
investment which will generate $1.7 billion in energy and water savings
for the federal government.\5\ We also urge FEMP to increase its
support to military services seeking ESPCs for upgrades to military
facilities across the county. One of the main reasons these
infrastructure and resiliency upgrades remain uncompleted is lack of
appropriated funding. Employing ESPCs to make these much-needed
upgrades is a cost-effective way to increase the resiliency of
important infrastructure systems and the services they provide to base
personnel and operations.
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\5\ https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/awarded-doe-idiq-energy-
savings-performance-contract-projects.
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Again, we strongly urge a total of $36 million in funding for FEMP,
including $2 million for the Performance Contracting National Resource
Center, alongside $400 million for the AFFECT program--so that FEMP may
continue its vital work as the program manager of ESPCs and the ESPC
DOE IDIQ ESPC contract in FY2022 and beyond. We thank you for providing
this opportunity to submit this testimony and we look forward to
working with you.
[This statement was submitted by Robert Johnson, Senior Vice
President, Hannon Armstrong.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Izaak Walton League of America
The Izaak Walton League of America appreciates the opportunity to
submit testimony concerning appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2022
for programs under the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee. The League is
a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1922 with 40,000 members
and 200 local chapters nationwide. Our members are committed to
advancing common sense policies that safeguard wildlife and habitat,
support community-based conservation, and address pressing
environmental issues. The following pertains to programs administered
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Missouri River Recovery Program
construction at $30.4 million, Missouri River Recovery Program
operations and maintenance at $5.2 million, Upper Mississippi River
Restoration Program at $31.17 million, and the South Florida Ecosystem
Restoration Program at $725 million).
Army Corps of Engineers, Construction and Operations and Maintenance,
Missouri River
The Missouri River Recovery Program
The League urges the Subcommittee to reject the President's request
of $8 million for construction for the Missouri River Recovery Program
(MRRP) and instead appropriate $30.4 million for FY 2022 for the MRRP.
This funding level will adequately fund the Army Corps to successfully
implement the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan (Plan) and the
Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project for the Bank Stabilization and
Navigation Project (BSNP). We ask that the funding meet the Corps
capability level identified in the Environmental Impact Statement for
the Plan, $30.4 million for construction and $5.2 million for
operations and maintenance of existing projects. With this funding, the
Corps, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), states, and other partners
can continue important ecosystem restoration efforts that are producing
long-term ecological and economic benefits.
The requested increased FY 2022 funding would allow the Corps to
fund long neglected aspects of the BSNP Fish and Wildlife Mitigation
Project for the Missouri River. Funding for this critical effort has
been severely lacking in recent years. Mitigation Project goals are
falling further and further behind projections and expectations.
The BSNP Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project, as authorized by
Section 601(a) of WRDA 1986 and Section 334(a) of WRDA 1999, is
required to offset habitat loses from the Corps' ongoing maintenance
and operation of the Missouri River System. The Fish and Wildlife
Mitigation Project will help reduce Missouri River flooding, improve
water quality, provide for self-sustaining fish and wildlife
populations and increase recreation for families in the basin.
Funding the full capability will enable the Corps to collaborate
with a growing list of landowners willing to help reduce flood risk and
restore critical habitat. Years of declining funding has caused the
Corps to fall further and further behind established habitat and
species targets identified in Congressionally mandated recovery plans.
Over 100,000 acres of previously authorized mitigation that would build
resiliency to flooding and benefit fish and wildlife has not been
secured due to insufficient appropriations for the MRRP. Willing
landowners are anxiously waiting on the Corps to fulfill its BSNP
Mitigation obligations.
With adequate funding, habitat restoration efforts could include
reconnecting portions of the river to floodplain wetlands, bottomland
forests, and native prairies. This will increase the river's capacity
and resiliency and increase the ability to capture carbon and reduce
the movement of nutrients to the Gulf of Mexico. These actions will
also reduce the river's stage and velocity during high flows, while
creating much needed slow and slack water habitat for the pallid and
other fish species during other times of year.
In 2011, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission found recreational spending provides $68
million in annual economic impact to communities along the Missouri
River from Yankton, South Dakota to St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to
the economic boost from tourism, restoration projects support job
creation throughout the entire region. The Corps contracts with local
construction companies, creating jobs, and injecting dollars into local
economies through purchases of materials, fuel, food and lodging. With
the funding requested, the Corps could readily implement more of these
important restoration projects.
Army Corps of Engineers, Construction, Upper Mississippi River
Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program
The League is an active and long-time proponent of restoring the
Upper Mississippi River (UMR) ecosystem. We have supported the Upper
Mississippi River Restoration (subaccount for the Environmental
Management Program) since its inception and continue to support this
vital restoration initiative. We urge the Subcommittee to continue to
provide $33.17 million for the UMRR-EMP as provided in the FY 2021
omnibus.
The Upper Mississippi River is one of the most complex ecosystems
on earth. It provides habitat for 50 species of mammals, 45 species of
reptiles and amphibians, 37 species of mussels, and 241 species of
fish. The need for ecosystem restoration is unquestionable. As the
Corps correctly stated in its study of navigation expansion, this
ecosystem is ``significantly altered, is currently degraded, and is
expected to get worse.'' Researchers from the National Academy of
Sciences have determined that river habitat is disappearing faster than
it can be replaced through existing programs such as the Upper
Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) program, which was authorized at
$33.2 million annually by Congress in 1999. Since its inception, the
UMRR has restored critical fish and wildlife habitat on more than
100,000 acres across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and
Missouri. The UMRR is also able to deliver the restoration of these
acres at the average cost of $3,000 per acre, an impressively low cost.
Our nation relies on a healthy Mississippi River for commerce,
recreation, drinking water, food, and generation of electricity. More
than 12 million people annually recreate on and along the Upper
Mississippi River spending $1.2 billion and supporting 18,000 jobs.
More people recreate on the Upper Mississippi annually than visit
Yellowstone National Park. Each of the more than 50 completed
restoration projects generates half of its labor from local workers
living near the sites. During construction, each of these projects
infuses an average of $750,000 into the local economies and small
towns.
Army Corps of Engineers, Construction, South Florida Ecosystem
Restoration
The League requests the Subcommittee reject the President's request
for $350 million and appropriate $725 million for construction for the
South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (SFER) for FY 2022 as requested by
Florida Congressional delegation, Florida state officials, and the
Everglades conservation community. This request prioritizes funds
needed now to adequately restore the Everglades, reduce polluted
discharges from Lake Okeechobee, and protect drinking water for 8
million Americans living in Florida.
This funding will advance important restoration projects under the
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), including the
critical Everglades-Agricultural Area Reservoir recently authorized in
WRDA 2018. The reservoir would allow water to flow south from Lake
Okeechobee and be stored and treated before flowing into Everglades
National Park and Florida Bay, greatly reducing the need for the Army
Corps to release polluted lake water into the Caloosahatchee and St.
Lucie Rivers, which can lead to harmful algal blooms on Florida's Gulf
and Atlantic coasts. Adequately funding SFER would also allow the Army
Corps to complete other CERP projects vital to restoration of the
Everglades, including Picayune Strand Restoration, Broward County Water
Preserve Area, Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands, and Indian River Lagoon-
South.
Economic benefits that would come from restoration of the
Everglades are astronomical. Gains in biodiversity, groundwater
purification and aquifer storage, increasing property values, park
visitation, carbon sequestration, and improved fish and wildlife
habitat that would come from a full restoration of the Everglades, as
described in the CERP, would drive an economic increase of $46.5
billion. Even with a price tag of $11 billion, much of which will be
borne by non-federal partners, restoration of the Everglades represents
an impressive benefit to cost ratio greater than 4.00.
The Izaak Walton League appreciates the opportunity to testify
about these important issues.
[This statement was submitted by Jared Mott, Conservation Director,
Izaak
Walton League of America.]
______
Prepared Statement of Methane Action and Remineralize the Earth
Madam Chair et al.,
Yesterday, the world-renowned former science advisor to the U.K.,
Sir David King of Cambridge University, declared that he believes we
have five years left to solve the climate crisis. He announced the
formation of a new Climate Crisis Advisory Group to help reduce
emissions, remove greenhouse gases already emitted and restore the
climate to truly healthy temperatures and functioning. See, https://
www.businessgreen.com/news/4033355/reduce-remove-repair-climate-crisis-
advisory-group-sketches-climate-priorities.
In April Sir David led a group of 31 scientists in writing a letter
in advance of the White House Climate Summit declaring that governments
need to expedite the reduction of emissions, the deployment of methods
of removing ambient methane and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the
development of governance capable of ensuring the safe and effective
use of those methods. (See, MethaneAction.org).\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Today we learned that a Penn State research team has shown that
oil and gas methane emissions are larger than EPA inventory values by
48% to 76%. (https://phys.org/news/2021-06-ethane-proxies-methane-oil-
gas.html).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our testimony focuses primarily on how this Subcommittee can
expedite the research and development of the technologies that can buy
us time as we seek to restore safe levels of GHGs including
CO2 below 300 ppm and methane below .8 ppm. Peer reviewed
science and on-going laboratory tests indicate we can achieve that
methane goal within this decade buying time to deal with the longer-
term problem of CO2. We filed complementary testimony on the
24th with the Interior-EPA Subcommittee and recommend that you compare
notes with them in order to ensure the best fit for each Subcommittee
and recommendation that you find useful. For example, some of the work
we have recommended that the EPA direct could be initiated by ARPA-E
but (1) not all are energy related as methane and other GHGs have other
sources and sinks, and (2) some of the research would be done more
efficiently in some cases with non-U.S. principal investigators who are
already, with too little funding, working on these approaches, and (3)
the overall program should in any case be geared for both international
cooperation and policy coordination. So we will not repeat those
requests here. Our testimony will largely be in the legislative
language we recommend from here on:
(I) Reducing emissions and concentrations of climate forcing agents.
In order to reduce greenhouse gases and other climate forcing
agents to historically healthy levels as soon as possible, the
Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Secretaries of Agriculture,
the Interior, State and Treasury, the Administrator of USAID, the Chief
Executive Officers of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the U.S.
International Development Finance Corporation and the Export Import
Bank, using funds appropriated for their other relevant programs as
well as those appropriated for this Title, shall, as directed below:
(A) Review existing and pending patents for methods of removing
climate forcing agents and limiting the emissions thereof, and
grants and contracts for the development of such technologies
made by the U.S. and other governments, including but not
limited to the United Kingdom, and foundations and ensure, in
consultation and cooperation with the Special Envoy and
Domestic Advisor on Climate Change and the appropriate
departments and agencies, including but not limited to the
Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, and foreign and
international governments, that the research, development, and
deployment of such methods is completed and advanced each year
to the extent practicable, and incorporated in their actions,
including but not limited to their foreign assistance,
intergovernmental cooperation, and international finance
programs, and provisions. The Secretary shall complete the
steps of paragraph (A) and its subparagraphs by July 1, 2022
unless otherwise noted in the schedule set forth as follows:
(i) Develop an interagency agreement on GHG Drawdown Research,
Development and Deployment to collaborate with the
Administrator of the EPA and the Commandant of the Coast
Guard, as the U.S. liaison to the International Maritime
Organization, on research, development, assessment and
trials of methods of methane oxidation and catalysis for
near source and ambient removal and measure co-benefits
including removing other pollutants such as Nitrous Oxide,
CO2, soot and preventing ground level ozone.
(See Interior-EPA testimony of Methane Action and RTE for
research projects.)
(ii) Surface-based Photocatalytic Enhanced Methane Oxidation
(SPEMO). In cooperation with the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Secretary of State and the Administrator of
USAID the Secretary of Energy shall contract for three
years of research and development of surface-based
photocatalytic enhanced methane oxidation (SPEMO) to: (I)
Lower methane emissions from coal mines, oil wells and
animal farms, to ensure that the CH4 concentration from
ventilated air is less than 1.7 ppm by volume; and (II)
Apply photocatalytic paint to buildings, rooftops,
photovoltaic panels, or in a ventilated conduit to reduce
methane in the general atmosphere as a complement to
commercial photocatalytic paints and coatings already being
used because of their self-cleaning property and ability to
reduce urban pollution such as nitrogen oxides and volatile
organic compounds. At $1,000,000, or one third of that from
each of three agencies, per year for a total contract in
FY2022 for (I) and (II) of: $3,000,000
(B) Integrate GHG removal in Development Assistance and Trade.
(1) The Secretary of Energy, Directors of the DOE Office of Fossil
Energy and Carbon Management and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-
E, the Chief Engineer of the USACE and the Commissioner of the Bureau
of Reclamation shall assist the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and
the Administrator of US EPA, in calculating the difference between the
climate forcing agents emitted in the production of fuels,
hydroelectric power of different types, other energy sources, wetlands
management (e.g. draining or re-watering) and the production of the
goods and services in other countries and those emitted in the United
States, the extent to which other countries remove emitted GHGs and the
economic costs thereof and inform U.S. Trade Representative, the
Secretary of Commerce by June 1, 2022 of the results of those
calculations so that they may ensure that those receiving assistance in
programs under their jurisdiction or control or exporting goods or
services to the United States will limit and sequester, oxidize or
otherwise remove the climate forcing agents or the carbon dioxide
equivalent thereof to the extent practicable currently and endow a fund
for the future reclamation of such agents as technical or natural
capacities for so doing are available.
(2) Assist the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the
Administrator of US EPA, and the U.S. Trade Representative and the
Secretary of Commerce, in calculating by June 1, 2022 tariff and trade
adjustments that would internalize the avoided costs and externalities
that exceed those of comparable production in the United States; so
that they are in a position to impose tariffs and embargoes accordingly
by September 1, 2022.
(C) Ensure Global Governance of GHG Removal Methods. Beginning no
later than one week after the date of enactment and continuing
thereafter, the Secretary shall assist the Secretary of State,
the Administrator of the EPA and the US Trade Representative,
in consultation with the Special Envoy for Climate Change, the
Commandant of the Coast Guard and other agencies participating
in the affected U.S. delegations, in proposing and pursuing
resolutions and agreements for supporting the proper assessment
and deployment and governance of methods of reducing the
atmospheric presence of climate forcing agents to historic
healthy levels; of assessing the effects thereof to ensure the
sufficient, safe and proper use of technologies for reducing
the emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs, HFCs, black
soot and other climate forcing agents or the climate forcing
impact of them; and for actively removing such agents from the
atmosphere, within or apart from existing international
agreements in a manner that is complementary to their
objectives and not preemptive of conservation and restoration
efforts. Those agreements shall include but not be limited to
the UNFCCC and its protocols and accords, the London Convention
on Marine Pollution (via the International Maritime
Organization), the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the
Ozone Layer and its protocols, UNECE Convention on Long-range
Transboundary Air Pollution, the Convention on Migratory
Species, the Convention on Biological Diversity and other
conservation agreements, the major international trade
agreements, and the United Nations, and UNEP, FAO, UNDP and any
other relevant subsidiary bodies; $3,000,000
(D) Report on Plans. The Secretary of Energy in cooperation with
the Secretary of State shall form a Committee on Climate
Restoration comprised of the Secretaries and agency heads
tasked under this Title to report as directed in subsections
(D) and (E) to the Committees of jurisdiction within ninety
days of enactment on their training programs and plans for
cooperating with the United Nations, the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development and their subsidiary
bodies, other interested nation states in implementing
paragraphs (A)-(D) and for incorporating these elements in
their work and measuring the success of their implementation;
and
(E) Report on Results. Within 180 days of enactment and annually
thereafter the Committee on Climate Restoration shall report to
the Secretaries and Administrators listed in Section I, and the
Congressional Committees of jurisdiction, on their progress and
report any requests and suggestions for expediting the
deployment of methods found to be effective in light of their
direct and indirect costs and co-benefits as informed in more
detail every two years by the assessments produced by those
agencies and other competent authorities. The Secretary shall
ensure that the report and plan are produced with the
cooperation of appropriate government agencies, including but
not limited to the EPA, EIA, USAID and those included elsewhere
in this Section. The Secretary shall further ensure that
authors include a range of conservation biology, oceanic,
agronomy and atmospheric scientists, among others, as well as
economists, engineers, policy makers, regulatory experts. The
federal agencies should also provide a companion report
discussing their efforts, progress and challenges. The
Secretary is directed to fund from his regular budget a report
updating the initial report every 2 years.
For this Title in addition to the amounts specified above:
$8,000,000
II. Integrating Climate Restoration across the Government.
The program requirements of these Sections are to be integrated
into the regular order of business and carried out within the budget
authorities and amounts appropriated for each of the affected agencies
independent of further appropriations, this section however, hereby
also provides such authorization as may be necessary through FY2028 as
well as appropriations for FY2022.
______
Prepared Statement of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
(Metropolitan) encourages the Subcommittee's support for fiscal year
2022 federal funding of $10.7 million for the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation's (Reclamation) Colorado River Basin Salinity Control
Program (Salinity Control Program), Title II--Basinwide Program to
prevent further degradation of Colorado River water quality and
increased economic damages.
The salt concentration in the Colorado River causes an estimated
$354 million in quantifiable damages to water users each year. While
this figure is significant, had it not been for the efforts of the
Salinity Control Program, damages would be much higher. Salinity
Control Program actions have reduced the salinity of Colorado River
water at key locations over 90 milligrams per liter (mg/L) from what
they would have been without the actions. Modeling by Reclamation
indicates that quantifiable damages could rise to approximately $671
million by the year 2040 without continuation of the program.
Metropolitan is the regional water supplier for most of urban
Southern California, providing supplemental water to retail agencies
that serve approximately 19 million people.
Water imported via the Colorado River Aqueduct has the highest
salinity level of all of Metropolitan's sources of supply, averaging
around 630 mg/L since 1976. This salinity level causes economic damages
to all sectors. For example, high salinity has the following impacts:
--It reduces the useful life of water heaters, faucets, garbage
disposals, clothes washers, and dishwashers, and increases use
of water softeners in the household sector;
--It increases the cost of cooling operations, the need for and cost
of water softening, and decreases equipment service life in the
commercial sector;
--It increases water use, the cost of water treatment, and sewer fees
in the industrial sector;
--It decreases the life of treatment facilities and pipelines in the
utility sector;
--It increases the cost of desalination and brine disposal for
recycled water in the municipal sector;
--It reduces the yield of salt sensitive crops and increases water
use for leaching in the agricultural sector;
--It increases desalination and brine disposal costs due to
accumulation of salts in groundwater basins, and reduces
opportunities for water recycling due to groundwater quality
deterioration;
--It reduces the ability to replenish groundwater in basins with
relatively low salinity standards;
--It reduces the ability to reclaim and reuse water due to high
salinities in the water delivered to water treatment and
reclamation facilities; and
--It makes it more difficult to meet wastewater discharge
requirements to comply with National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System permit terms and conditions.
There has been concern over salinity levels in the Colorado River
for many years. To address the concern, the International Boundary and
Water Commission signed Minute No. 242, Permanent and Definitive
Solution to the International Problem of the Salinity of the Colorado
River in 1973, and the President signed the Colorado River Basin
Salinity Control Act of 1974 (Act) into law. Title I of the Act deals
with the U.S. commitment to the quality of waters being delivered to
Mexico. Title II of the Act deals with improving the quality of the
water delivered to users in the United States. This testimony deals
specifically with Title II efforts. To further foster interstate
cooperation and coordinate the Colorado River Basin states' efforts on
salinity control, the seven Basin states formed the Colorado River
Basin Salinity Control Forum.
The Forum is charged with reviewing the Colorado River's water
quality standards for salinity every three years. In so doing, it
adopts a Plan of Implementation consistent with these standards. The
level of appropriation requested in this testimony is in keeping with
the adopted Plan of Implementation, which is to be implemented by
Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS).
In implementing the Act, Congress recognized that most of the salt
load in the Colorado River originates from federally owned lands. The
majority of land within the Colorado River Basin is federally owned and
administered. The salts in the Colorado River Basin are naturally-
occurring and pervasive, mostly resulting from saline sediments in the
Basin that were deposited in prehistoric marine environments. They are
easily eroded, dissolved, and transported into the river system, and
enter the River through both natural and anthropogenic processes. The
Salinity Control Program reduces salinity by preventing salts from
dissolving and mixing with the River's flow. Irrigation improvements
(sprinklers, gated pipe, lined canals) and vegetation management reduce
the amount of salt transported to the Colorado River. Point sources
such as saline springs are also controlled.
The Salinity Control Program benefits Lower Basin water users,
hundreds of miles downstream from salt sources in the Upper Basin,
through reduced salinity of Colorado River water.
The Salinity Control Program, as set forth in the Act, also
benefits the Upper Colorado River Basin water users through more
efficient water management and increased crop production, and benefits
local economies through construction contracts and environmental
enhancements.
In the early years of the program, Reclamation implemented salinity
control through large projects which were funded with specific line
item amounts. In 1995, Congress amended the Act and created
Reclamation's Basinwide Program. Under this program, Reclamation funds
competitive proposals for projects that will decrease the salt load to
the Colorado River.
Most of the proposals target off-farm irrigation distribution
systems such as canals and laterals. The lining or piping of canals and
laterals prevents leakage into the groundwater and the dissolution and
transportation of salts to the Colorado River and its tributaries.
The requested funding level of $10.7 million is required to keep
the Basinwide Program on pace with the overall Salinity Control Program
implementation needs. These federal dollars will be augmented by state
cost sharing of 30 percent and by an additional 25 percent provided by
the agricultural producers with whom the U.S. Department of Agriculture
contracts for implementation of salinity control measures.
Over the past years, the Salinity Control Program has proven to be
a cost-effective approach to mitigating the impacts of increased
salinity in the Colorado River. Adequate federal funding of this
important program is essential. Metropolitan urges the Subcommittee to
fund the Bureau of Reclamation's Salinity Control Program, Title II--
Basinwide Program for fiscal year 2022 in the amount of $10.7 million.
This modest investment in source control pays dividends in improved
drinking water quality to nearly 40 million Americans.
[This statement was submitted by Jeffrey Kightlinger, General
Manager,
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association
Chair Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and members of the
Subcommittee, I am Jim B. Horan, Executive Director of the Mid-West
Electric Consumers Association (Mid-West). Mid-West represents the
interests of over 300 consumer-owned utilities across the Upper Great
Plains that purchase power from the federal hydroelectric generators
that are part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. That power is
marketed by the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), an agency of
the U.S. Department of Energy, and is sold to Mid-West Members in the
states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Mid-West's members rely on this
cost-based, renewable, federal hydroelectric power for a significant
portion of their power supply requirements.
Mid-West requests that the Subcommittee provide the full funding
for Purchase Power and Wheeling (PP&W) authority requested by WAPA in
the FY 2022 budget request. Mid-West also supports the continued use of
``net-zero'' for annual expenses and the public partnership financing
that has worked so successfully in the Pick-Sloan Region for over 20
years.
purchase power and wheeling
The PP&W authority is necessary for WAPA to fulfill its contractual
obligations to deliver firm power to Mid-West's members and other WAPA
customers, including federal and state agencies and Native American
Tribes. These funds can only be used for PP&W costs and they are
available until expended. While WAPA may not always spend the full PP&W
appropriation in every year, a severe and prolonged drought can cause
WAPA to incur PP&W costs that exceed their available funding. In that
event, WAPA must use cash from other planned expenditures, including
repaying customer advances for the rehabilitation of federal assets.
This disruption to asset rehabilitation midstream can cause
significantly higher costs due to contractor work stoppages and
restarts, interest that accrues on money already spent on the project,
replacement power due to asset outages, etc.
The PP&W budget is prepared approximately two years in advance of
the fiscal year. Each legislated project for which WAPA markets and
transmits power has unique power production and marketing
characteristics, which results in differing methods to budget for
purchase power. For the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program--Eastern
Division, WAPA staff look at the last 10-11 years of rolling hydrologic
conditions, which include a multi-year drought, and averages the 5
median years, eliminating the other 6-7 higher and lower water years.
Using the hydrologic data, WAPA staff then prepare a conservative
power price forecast for the period. The combination of forecasted
water conditions, consequent purchase power and wheeling volumes, and
the power price forecast yield the estimate of PP&W costs over the
forecast period.
It is important to note, however, that a drought with worse
hydrologic conditions than any of the years included in the study will
likely yield PP&W costs significantly above what is forecast. Mid-West
is committed to working with the Subcommittee staff and the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to resolve any remaining issues
associated with the methodology involving PP&W. We are very concerned
that CBO changed a two decades-old agreement that PP&W appropriations
would not score against the federal deficit. Despite the fact that all
PP&W expenditures are paid by the WAPA customers (Mid-West member-
utilities), CBO still proposed to score these expenditures. We hope any
lingering issues can be resolved. This is very important to the
customer-owners of the region, since federal cost-based hydropower is
the life-blood of the regional economy and key to maintaining energy
affordability.
conclusion
The Subcommittee's longstanding support of the federal power
program is greatly appreciated, and we thank you for your consideration
of this testimony. We stand ready to respond to any questions.
[This statement was submitted by Jim B. Horan, Executive Director,
Mid-West Electric Consumers Association.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Mni Wiconi Project
1. FY 2022 OMR Request
The Mni Wiconi Project respectfully requests $ 45.080 million in
appropriations for operation, maintenance and replacement (OMR)
activities in FY 2021, including $1.997 million \1\ for the Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation). The OMR request includes $ 21.6 million for
necessary Coreline storage towers, crossing, and pump station.
Additionally, the OSRWSS Core needs $38 million for South Core Line
(Phase V) Replacement (see Section 2). Report language is also
requested.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This testimony uses figures provided by Reclamation for its
FY21 work plan. We applied 2.3% inflation to those figures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OMR funds will be used as summarized in Table 1 by the Oglala Sioux
Rural Water Supply System (OSRWSS), Rosebud Sioux Rural Water System
(RSRWS), and Lower Brule Sioux Rural Water System (LBSRWS).
TABLE 1
MNI WICONI PROJECT SPONSOR
AGENCY: BOR
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSRWSS
--------------------------- RSRWS LBSRWS Reclamation TOTAL
Coreline Distribution
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Employees.............. 17 33 17 13 8 88
Labor and Fringe Benefits........ $1,372,027 $2,053,402 $927,271 $972,800 $1,003,563 $6,329,063
Labor Overhead Costs............. 626,879 831,628 ........... 192,700 409,200 2,060,407
Non-Labor Costs
Electricity/Natural Gas/ 650,000 753,239 211,160 135,800 258,819 2,009,018
Propane.....................
Telephone/Communications..... 40,000 50,499 23,500 33,900 ........... 147,899
Water Treatment Chemicals/ 400,000 236,050 30,000 104,000 ........... 770,050
Supplies....................
Wells, Pumps, Motors & 590,000 85,933 82,500 101,500 ........... 859,933
Replacement.................
Water Testing................ 120,000 31,827 10,000 ........... ........... 161,827
Vehicle OMR.................. 83,000 290,687 78,000 91,700 18,414 561,801
Water Service Providers...... ........... ............ 250,500 ........... ........... 250,500
Travel-Training.............. 60,000 90,177 8,000 32,900 25,575 216,652
Other........................ 257,000 92,297 318,729 199,200 281,325 1,148,551
Extraordinary Replacements
Meter vault, fuel tank & ........... ............ ........... 150,000 ........... 150,000
security upgrades...........
Increase Capacity of ........... ............ ........... ........... ........... ...........
Reservoir (New).............
GPS/GIS...................... ........... 100,000 ........... 25,000 ........... 125,000
Zebra Mussel Infestation..... ........... ............ ........... 200,000 ........... 200,000
CB #4-6, Electrical/Generator ........... 200,000 ........... ........... ........... 200,000
Replace #5 Reservoir 1 MG.... ........... 3,000,000 ........... ........... ........... 3,000,000
Increase Pipe Size:8" to 12 ........... 2,500,000 ........... ........... ........... 2,500,000
(Sharps to Rockyford--15 mi)
Replace Sharps East ........... 2,000,000 ........... ........... ........... 2,000,000
Reservoir:1 MG..............
Existing Community Transfer
Manderson OM&R............... ........... 25,000 ........... ........... ........... 25,000
Oglala North OM&R............ ........... 40,000 ........... ........... ........... 40,000
Sharps Corner OM&R........... ........... 25,000 ........... ........... ........... 25,000
Priority Community System
Upgrades
Production Well Replacements. ........... ............ 700,000 ........... ........... 700,000
Reservoir Upgrades/Projects
South Core Reservoir 1....... 5,000,000 ............ ........... ........... ........... 5,000,000
South Core Reservoir 2....... 5,000,000 ............ ........... ........... ........... 5,000,000
South Core Reservoir 4....... 6,000,000 ............ ........... ........... ........... 6,000,000
White River Bore Crossing.... 3,800,000 ............ ........... ........... ........... 3,800,000
High Service Pump Station VFD 1,800,000 ............ ........... ........... ........... 1,800,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL...................... $25,798,906 $12,405,738 $2,639,660 $2,239,500 $1,996,896 $45,080,700
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The OSRWSS Core System is the heart of the Mni Wiconi Project and
serves the three Indian Reservations and the West River/Lyman-Jones
Rural Water System (WRLJ) in 7 off-reservation counties covering
southwestern South Dakota with a design capacity of 52,000 people. The
Project now serves 41,250. Public Law 100-516, as amended, our
authorizing legislation, found that:
...the United States has a trust responsibility to ensure that
adequate and safe water supplies are available to meet the
economic, environmental, water supply, and public health needs
of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Rosebud Indian
Reservation and Lower Brule Indian Reservation...
The request as presented in Table 1 will meet the purposes of the
Act. Appropriation by Congress of adequate funds will fulfill the
fiduciary responsibilities of the United States as articulated in the
Act.
The Project has been treating and delivering more water each year
from the OSRWSS Water Treatment Plant near Fort Pierre. The population
will continue to grow within the service area and will reach the design
population late in the next decade. The OMR budget must be adequate to
(1) keep pace with the system and its growing population and (2)
protect and preserve the $470 million investment held by the United
States in trust for the Tribes and by WRLJ. Funds are needed to
properly operate and maintain the infrastructure.
We appreciate the President's focus on improving critical water
infrastructure in his Discretionary Request and await his specific
requested funding level for the Mni Wiconi Project. However, we remind
you of the Project's overall needs, including Coreline storage towers
and OMR for community systems when they are transferred into the
Project, along with the actual costs of the upgrade work. We also
remind you that the oversight budget decreases funds for routine
maintenance and extraordinary replacements as referenced in Section 7.
2. Coreline Storage Towers, Crossing, and Phase V Project/Existing
Community Transfers/Extraordinary Replacements
Included in Table 1 is $21.6 million for OSRWSS Coreline Storage
Towers, a crossing and pump station replacement. The OSRWSS needs to
build these towers on the Coreline for added storage. They are
necessary for the Project to function properly in scenarios when all
Project Sponsors are pulling 100% of their allocations. The Coreline
needs $16 million for these towers. The Coreline also needs $ 3.8
million to replace the White River Coreline crossing because there is a
leak in the steel pipe under the river that is growing in size. This
crossing is essential for the Pine Ridge Reservation and surrounding
area south of the White River crossing. It also needs $1.8 million for
the High Service Pump Station VFD Project.
Not included in Table 1 for the OMR request, but a critical need
for the OSRWSS Core is the South Core Replacement (Phase V) Project,
which will move the lines around the City of Ft. Pierre to address
recurrent leaks in the area. Project costs are estimated at $38
million.
Annual budgeting by the Administration must reflect: (1) increases
in water deliveries as project population was added between 2013 and
2015 with no corresponding increase in funding; (2) aging facilities in
need of maintenance and replacement (since start of construction in
1994 and through end of construction in FY 2015); and (3) 40 existing
communities that must be transferred to the respective Indian rural
water systems. It is critical that Project features not fall into
disrepair and that sufficient funds are available for the OMR of
existing community systems that are scheduled for inclusion in the
Project in FY 2022 (or were transferred earlier). Funding is also
needed for the actual upgrade work, costs for which total in the tens
of millions for the Indian Project Sponsors. We also ask the
Subcommittee to be mindful of what Reclamation calls ``extra-ordinary
replacements,'' which are actually necessary and routine when pumps,
water treatment equipment, pipelines, and other facilities fail and
require replacement to continue operations.
The Mni Wiconi Project should be a shiny, new project that stands
out as a beacon of modern technology. It provides under-privileged
communities with safe and adequate drinking water of the highest
quality and to improve the health and well-being of a low-income
population, purposes that have been frustrated by inadequate attention
to infrastructure maintenance.
It is important to remember that for OMR activities, the Indian
projects are left with the appropriated figure minus the approximate $2
million that Reclamation takes for oversight. The reduced amount does
not account for the needed storage towers, crossing replacement, the
community upgrade work, any additional community system transfers, or
unexpected extraordinary replacements.
The Promise Zone designation for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
was announced in April 2015. It focused on developing solutions to
infrastructure challenges and the necessary resources to upgrade
existing community systems, among other things, to revitalize the
region. The request in Table 1 is consistent with the Promise Zone
designation (and last Administration's Opportunity Zone designation),
and underscores the need for OMR funding for routine maintenance,
``extra-ordinary'' replacements and existing community systems
following transfer.
The need is the same on the Rosebud and Lower Brule Indian
Reservations. Adequate funding for all activities, including community
water systems that are transferred, is a necessity for the three Indian
rural water systems in the Mni Wiconi Project. The following report
language is requested (see previous Congresses for similarity):
Mni Wiconi Project, South Dakota.-Reclamation is directed to
continue working with the Tribes and relevant Federal agencies, such as
the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, and the Department
of Housing and Urban Development to coordinate use of all existing
authorities and funding sources to finish needed community system
upgrades and connections, as well as any transfers of those systems, as
quickly as possible. The Administration is encouraged to include
appropriate funding for transferred community systems in future budget
requests. (House Report 114-532, FY 2017)
Reclamation's annual budget requests properly included the transfer
of existing community systems and responsibility for operation and
maintenance. The budget needs to reflect those transfers:
...The project consists of new systems to be constructed, as well
as 40 existing Mni Wiconi community systems. Responsibilities
of the Secretary under the Act include the operation and
maintenance of existing water systems and appurtenant
facilities on the Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and Lower Brule Indian
Reservations. (FY 2012-18 Budget Justifications, p. GPR-49)
Reclamation and other federal agencies are now assisting the Tribes
with a pathway for funding transfers and future OMR activities for the
40 existing community systems as they become part of the Project and
eligible for funding. It is crucial that these efforts continue. OMR
funding is needed for communities that were upgraded and will be
transferred (or have been transferred) to the Project.
3. OSRWSS Regional Core Facilities
The staff of the OSRWSS core system includes 17 employees. The
staff operates and maintains the 14 million gallon per day regional
water treatment plant, 203 miles of main transmission pipeline from 12
inches to 27 inches in diameter, nine major pumping stations (4
Megawatt total capacity), nine reservoirs (4.2 million gallons of
capacity) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system,
necessary to deliver safe and adequate drinking water to the service
areas of OSRWSS, RSRWS, LRSRWS and WRLJ. Again, the Core Facilities
need an additional three new Coreline storage towers, a crossing
replacement, and pump station project at a cost of $21.6 million. The
OSRWSS Core also needs $38 million for the South Core Line Replacement
(Phase V) Project.
4. OSRWSS Distribution on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
The OSRWSS Distribution's 33 employees are responsible for
maintaining 760 miles of PVC water mains and service lines, 30 high
production water wells, 33 booster pumps and treatment stations, 38
water storage reservoirs, and 2,206 metered residences. The water
system has been designed and constructed over a 24-year period, and
services a total population of 21,510 residents on the Pine Ridge
reservation. The construction of the water system is now complete and
valued in excess of $100 million, although 20 additional community
system upgrades are still pending. To operate and maintain our water
system has become a challenge. The core system east of Kyle has 4
reservoirs which have a total of 520,000 gallons of storage, this
equates to only enough for less than 6 hours of storage in emergency
situations. Table 1 shows a proposed 1-million-gallon reservoir to be
constructed adjacent to Reservoir #5 which is near the reservation
boundary north of Wanblee, SD. This added reservoir should increase our
storage to more than 24-hours. In preparation for the projected South
Unit development, Table 1 also proposes increasing the existing 8''
waterline to a 12'' line over the 15 mile stretch from Sharps to the
Rockyford Hwy 27/Hwy 2 Intersection, and a proposed 1 million-gallon
reservoir to be constructed adjacent to the Sharps East Reservoir.
5. Rosebud Sioux Rural Water System (RSRWS)
The staff of RSRWS or Sicangu Mni Wiconi will total 17 full-time
employees in FY 2021. The staff operates and maintains 425 miles of
mainline, 15 major pumping stations, 20 water storage reservoirs, 9
supply wells with two associated chlorination facilities, and SCADA
system. A new production well is still needed for Rosebud Rural Water
System due to decreased production and water supply. A previous RAX
project request for a new production well was proposed and denied.
Asset management indicates renovations are needed at some of the oldest
constructed facilities in the project. A few RAX requests for system
renovations have been submitted and some approved. The RSRWS budget
also includes water service contracts with the City of Mission and
Tripp County Water Users District (TCWUD) and others in the secondary
service area at a total cost of $250,500 which reflects a reduction due
less pumping for the Mission system. In 1995 the citizens of Mission
voted to transfer their municipal system to the Mni Wiconi Project and
in 2003 a final agreement between the Tribe, City of Mission and
Reclamation was consummated and the former municipal system is now held
in trust for the Tribe as part of the RSRWS. The inclusion and OMR of
the Mission system are authorized by Section 3A (a) (8) of the Mni
Wiconi Project Act, as amended. The completed community upgrades in
Antelope, Butte Creek, and Okreek communities are in the transfer
process. Parmelee, Upper Swift Bear, and Spring Creek community water
system upgrades will be completed by the end of FY 2022. RSRWS is
proposing a budget request of $2,639,660.00 for FY2021 including the
RAX request for a new production well.
6. Lower Brule Rural Water System
The Lower Brule Rural Water System (LBRWS) consists of a water
treatment plant, six booster stations, three tanks/reservoirs,
approximately 75 miles of core pipeline and approximately 300 miles of
distribution pipeline. LBRWS has a staff of 12 full-time and two part-
time employees to provide the operation and maintenance of these
facilities. As shown in Table 1, wages and fringe benefits total
$972,800.
The budget continues to include $150,000 to upgrade main line meter
vaults and $25,000 to obtain the GPS location of water lines installed
by ranchers and to add the lines to the current GIS database. The meter
pit upgrades will improve access to the meter vaults and prolong the
life of the equipment within the meter pits, while the GPS/GIS
information will provide needed information for the operation and
maintenance as well as the management of the system.
Zebra mussels were found in Lake Sharpe in 2019. Recent
investigations of the LBRWS intake and intake pumps have found the
zebra mussel infestation becoming a detriment to the LBRWS system. The
result is a need to remove the zebra mussels currently on the
infrastructure as well as installing a system to attempt to control the
zebra mussel infestation on and within the LBRWS infrastructure. As a
result, the budget includes $200,000 to deal with the zebra mussel
infestation in Lake Sharpe. LBRWS will continue to work with the Bureau
of Reclamation and the other sponsors to prioritize their needs and
ensure that their system is operating to the standards that have been
established over the past several years.
7. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
The BOR's budget is for oversight of operation and maintenance
activities for all tribal systems, including the employment of an
equivalent 8.0 persons. BOR pays the Western Area Power Administration
for Project preference power used by the OSRWSS core system and Rosebud
core system. BOR also pays for cathodic protection services for OSRWSS
core system, Rosebud, and OSRWSS on-reservation DWM&C systems.
Reclamation costs are expended before funds reach the Project.
[This statement was submitted by Ron Blacksmith, Core System
Manager, Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System, Chuck Jacobs,
Distribution System Director, Oglala Sioux RWSS, Young Colombe,
Manager, Rosebud Sioux Rural Water System, and Jim McCauley, Manager,
Lower Brule Sioux Rural Water System.]
______
Prepared Statement of the National Association for State Community
Services Programs
As Weatherization Director for the National Association for State
Community Services Programs (NASCSP), I am pleased to submit testimony
on the FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Specifically, I am
writing in support of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Weatherization
Assistance Program (WAP) and seeking an FY 2022 appropriations total of
$356 million, with $325 million for the WAP, $10 million for Training
and Technical Assistance at DOE, and $21 million for the Weatherization
Readiness Fund. This funding level is essential to expand current
program operations and empower the WAP to improve client services,
develop workforce training, innovate efficiency technologies, and
ensure equitable delivery of services.
NASCSP is the member organization representing the weatherization
grantees in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Native American
Tribes and US Territories, who oversee a weatherization workforce
operating in every county. The state offices represented by our
organization would like to thank the members of this Committee for
their support of the WAP over the years, particularly the
reauthorization of the program last year and the increase provided in
FY 2021. The WAP is a comprehensive whole-house retrofit program
serving people with low incomes by improving energy efficiency,
resident health and safety, and client finances through lower utility
costs. WAP workers are highly trained energy auditors, certified by a
national network of accredited nonprofits, small businesses, and
educational institutions in the use of advanced tools and technologies
to diagnose home performance. The WAP is a proven investment in the
sustainability, health, and resiliency of our communities, not only by
permanently benefiting low-income families disproportionally burdened
by energy costs, but also through supporting thousands of quality green
jobs in the building trades. As we continue the recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic, the WAP is an opportunity to invest in a growing
clean energy workforce, improve the health of thousands of families,
and fight climate change.
formula funding--leveraging funds for energy & non-energy benefits
The Department of Energy (DOE) funding appropriated by Congress has
allowed more than 8 million homes to be weatherized since the program's
inception in 1976. Each home receives a site-specific suite of energy
efficiency measures to be installed, such as insulation, air sealing,
and high efficiency HVAC systems. By improving the energy efficiency of
the home, these long-term investments save families money when they are
installed and for years to come. With lower energy bills, families have
more to spend on essentials like food, clothing, education, and health
care. These whole-home benefits are central to the WAP's mission.
A robust appropriation for weatherization and DOE Training &
Technical assistance is key to ensuring equitable allocation of
funding, sustained WAP impact on a nationwide scale, and consistent and
growing workforce development. WAP measures completed with DOE funds
are subject to at least three layers of quality assurance: quality
control is performed on every job by a local certified inspector; at
least 5 percent of all completed jobs receive a second inspection by a
state quality assurance monitor; and DOE monitors the quality assurance
practices of all state WAP offices. This multi-layered approach to
monitoring is designed to maximize the benefits from public funds and
to ensure clients in every state receive the best possible services.
Another critical WAP benefit is improved health and safety for
families. In homes that are cold and drafty, or affected by mold and
excess moisture, there is an increased risk of chronic illnesses.
Studies have shown the weatherization measures result in a healthier
living environment. An evaluation by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Evaluation \1\ found that residents of weatherized homes experienced
fewer asthma, allergy, and cold symptoms, as well as fewer missed days
of work and school. Weatherization mitigates factors that can trigger
an asthma attack, resulting in fewer emergency room visits and
hospitalizations. WAP measures can also prevent other life-threatening
events such as carbon monoxide poisoning and fires from unsafe heating
sources. These benefits are especially critical at a time when many are
staying at home more than ever. These outcomes pay off--every
weatherization dollar spent returns $2.78 in non-energy benefits.\2\
The Oak Ridge Evaluation found that families reported decreased out of-
pocket medical expenses by an average of $514 and the total health and
household-related benefits for each unit weatherized is estimated to be
$14,148.
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\1\ Oak Ridge National Lab, ``Health and Household-Related Benefits
Attributable to the Weatherization Assistance Program'', 2014. https://
weatherization.ornl.gov/Retrospectivepdfs/ORNL_
TM-2014_345.pdf.
\2\ Oak Ridge National Lab, ``Weatherization Works--Summary of
Findings'', 2014. https://weatherization.ornl.gov/Retrospectivepdfs/
ORNL_TM-2014_338.pdf.
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creating the energy efficiency workforce of the future
The WAP is overseen by the Office of Weatherization and
Intergovernmental Programs within the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE). DOE's focus on research and development brings
the WAP significant benefits including technical expertise, access to
the latest building science, and opportunities for collaboration with
other critical energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives. DOE's
technical standards and state offices' rigorous monitoring ensure that
clients receive the latest weatherization measures, maximizing the
benefits to low-income families. DOE's Standard Work Specifications \3\
and Home Energy Professionals \4\ certifications have become the gold
standard for residential energy efficiency.
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\3\ Standard Work Specifications for Home Energy Upgrades https://
sws.nrel.gov/.
\4\ Home Energy Professionals Certifications https://
www.energy.gov/eere/wipo/guidelines-home-energy-professionals.
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Every state crafts and implements a training and technical
assistance plan to build a strong workforce in their state network and
maintain skilled labor that meets the necessary DOE requirements. The
WAP provides training and workforce development opportunities in the
very same communities in which it is delivering energy efficiency
services, introducing low-income people to a rewarding career field
they may not have encountered otherwise. The energy efficiency work of
the WAP supports more than 8,500 jobs in weatherization and thousands
more across the supply chain of suppliers, trainers, and manufacturers.
Additionally, because of the advanced diagnostics and technology
developed in WAP, the program forms the foundation for the home
performance industry, which employs thousands of workers who complete
energy efficiency retrofits across the entire residential sector,
contributing to the overall 2.38 million energy efficiency jobs found
across the nation and in 99.8% of all US counties.\5\
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\5\ Energy Futures Initiative and the National Association for
State Energy Officials, ``U.S. Energy & Employment Report'', 2020.
https://www.usenergyjobs.org/.
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As the WAP workforce and its impact grows, the training and
technical assistance provided by DOE becomes even more critical. Since
FY 2014 DOE has received $3 million or less each year for these
purposes. As we have shown above, DOE's training, technical assistance,
and technological support is critical to the WAP and the broader energy
efficiency industry. By raising training and technical assistance
support to $10 million, DOE will continue to develop new technologies,
improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of low-income people, and
ensure the United States leads the world in energy efficient and
quality housing.
continuing the wap's history of innovation
The State WAP grantee is a key driver in developing new best
practices for weatherization services. There are numerous examples of
States across the country building on the success of the WAP and
maximizing the impact of weatherization.
--Workforce Development & Career Building
Positions within the residential energy efficiency and building
science trades offer workers extensive career advancement and training
opportunities, in addition to a compelling mission helping their low-
income neighbors. Numerous states partner with local technical colleges
and community groups to provide excellent training opportunities,
including to people with low incomes who may be served by the program.
For example, the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program offers
trade school tuition reimbursement for new and existing employees and
cosponsors a High School Energy Efficiency Summer Internship program.
We recognize the great potential of workforce development
initiatives like these to provide quality careers to people from
disadvantaged backgrounds while also ensuring the United States is a
leader in the growing energy efficiency sector.
Enhancement & Innovation Grants
When the WAP allocation surpasses $275 million, DOE has the option
to provide Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC) grants for
the purpose of expanding the materials, benefits and tools covered by
the WAP.\6\ The new WAP reauthorization established an additional WAP
Enhancement and Innovation Competitive Grant Program, which utilizes 6%
of the WAP appropriation for developing new practices. DOE plans to
implement both SERC and the Competitive Grant Program in the coming
year, providing a boost of investment in new technologies, innovative
service delivery practices, and enhancement energy auditing techniques.
State WAP grantees support innovation through both programs by
implementing and evaluating new best practices. An evaluation from Oak
Ridge National Lab \7\ found that the national weatherization network
is highly capable of installing and delivering a wide range of new and
innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency measures and
services.
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\6\ 42 U.S.C. Chapter 81 Sec. 6872. Authorization of
appropriations.
\7\ Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers Grant Program
Evaluation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL/TM-2017/703).
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Reducing Deferrals Through Pre-Weatherization Programs
Particularly severe conditions in a home can make installing
weatherization measures unsafe or ineffective, causing the home to be
deferred from receiving WAP services until the conditions are
addressed. For example, standing water in a basement can damage
appliances, old electrical wiring can be a fire hazard with insulation,
and major structural or roofing deficiencies can make working in spaces
unsafe. States have taken the lead with innovative Pre-WAP programs
utilizing leveraged (non-DOE) funding sources to make homes
weatherization ready. Pre-WAP initiatives like Ohio's Home
Weatherization Assistance Program Enhancement fund and Pennsylvania's
Homes in Need Program are formed through partnerships with their state
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to perform needed energy-
related repairs. Washington's Deferral Pilot Program leverages State
funding to address structural and mechanical issues at deferred homes
while also developing best practices for tracking these deferrals. The
success of these individual examples illustrates that additional
investment in non-energy related upgrades leads to reduced deferrals
and improved delivery of services to homes that otherwise would be
excluded from receiving the benefits of WAP. These conditions exist in
all States and highlight the need for investing in a Weatherization
Readiness Fund to address deferrals.
Weatherization Plus Health
Many States are implementing pilot programs or partnering with
State housing agencies to implement Weatherization plus Health
initiatives. The need for programs addressing indoor air quality have
become particularly pronounced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the
inherent health benefits of weatherization, these efforts leverage
weatherization service providers to incorporate additional healthy
homes measures, like hard surface flooring, enhanced ventilation, mold
abatement, and accessibility improvements. Local WAP agencies have
partnered with community health workers to provide enhanced client
education on energy and health. Combined with basic weatherization
measures, Weatherization Plus Health can target those with chronic
health conditions that result from in-home factors, adding substantial
healthcare savings on top of energy benefits.
closing
In closing, I would like to underscore the critical need for
continued Department of Energy funding for the Weatherization
Assistance Program. An FY 2022 appropriations total of $356 million,
with $325 million for the WAP, $10 million for Training and Technical
Assistance at DOE, and $21 million for the proposed Weatherization
Readiness Fund will sustain and expand the program as its scope and
impact continue to grow. Through enhancing weatherization services,
developing innovative new technologies, and building a strong and well-
trained workforce, the Weatherization Assistance Programs uplifts low-
income communities and cements the United States as a leader in
residential energy efficiency.
We look forward to working with Committee members in the future to
ensure the WAP continues to deliver cost effective results that support
our economy and make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable
in our communities. Thank you.
Respectfully submitted.
[This statement was submitted by Andrea Schroer, WAP Director,
National
Association for State Community Services Programs.]
______
Prepared Statement of the National Association of State Energy
Officials
Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and members of the
Subcommittee, I am David Terry, Executive Director of the National
Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO). I am testifying on
behalf of our 56 governor-designated state and territory members. NASEO
respectfully requests funding for the following U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) programs: $121 million for the U.S. State Energy Program
(SEP) with $90 million directed for formula grants to the states (plus
$5 million for technical assistance to states and $25 million to
address energy and air quality in schools); $325 million for the
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) (plus $10 million for technical
assistance); $530 million for the Building Technologies Office,
including $100 million for building energy codes-especially funding to
support state and local technical assistance, and $50 million for grid-
interactive efficient buildings; $400 million for the Vehicle
Technologies Office; $280 million for the Solar Energy Program; $56
million for FEMP, including $2 million for the state collaborative;
$252 million for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and
Emergency Response, including $50 million for energy-sector risk
mitigation grants to states and $20 million for program direction; $225
million for the Office of Electricity, including $25 million for
Transmission Permitting and State Technical Assistance; and $2 million
for Office of Policy to produce the U.S. Energy Employment Report. The
$90 million SEP request and $325 million WAP request is supported by
the ``Dear Colleague'' letter, signed by 45 members, you received last
week, led by Mr. Reed and Ms. Collins. These requests are separate from
additional funding necessary for infrastructure and climate change
responses. Section VI of the FY21 House Energy and Water Development
Appropriations bill is a good starting point for addressing climate and
infrastructure, with funding for SEP, WAP and EECBG. DOE must move
quickly to fill the 150 jobs within EERE, or the Subcommittee's
objectives and the Administration's agenda will not be satisfied.
The underlying SEP statute provides extraordinary flexibility and
reflects the states' approach to advancing renewable energy, energy
efficiency, transportation electrification, energy workforce
development, resilience and climate actions, and energy-sector
security. For example, the eight state REVWest initiative is advancing
EV infrastructure and many states use SEP funds to accelerate this
work. Southeastern states use SEP funds to collaborate on energy
emergency planning, response, and resilience. States are coordinating
on workforce development and equity programs with SEP. In addition,
states from across regions use SEP funds to accelerate energy
technology innovation initiatives in coordination with universities and
the private sector. All of this work is accomplished through the SEP
formula funds. Past Administrations have sought to ``slice off'' a
portion of the SEP formula funds provided by Congress for DOE-directed
competitive awards in areas selected by DOE. NASEO strongly opposes the
use of this approach which limits states collaborative work on priority
activities.
According to two Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) studies, SEP
provides exceptional value. ORNL found that each dollar of SEP formula
funds used by the states leverages $10.71 of state and private funds
and realizes $7.22 in energy cost savings for citizens and businesses.
The State Energy Offices lead or co-lead energy emergency planning
and response across electricity, natural gas, and petroleum products.
This state-federal-private function is a hallmark of SEP. NASEO also
strongly supports the role of CESER. It is critical to increase program
direction funds to manage and deliver these critical functions.
Finally, SEP is one of the only connections between billions of dollars
spent by DOE on R&D and the priorities of states. A greater reliance by
DOE on the states to ensure federal R&D meets real world conditions
would maximize the impact of R&D funding and leverage the vast
deployment capability of states. Greater coordination among EERE, FE,
OE, CESER, ARPA-E and the states is necessary.
Below are a few examples of the states' utilization of SEP funding:
Alabama.--The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs
(ADECA) supported energy efficiency upgrades at wastewater treatment
plants and local facilities. ADECA issued 21 grants to local
governments, universities, and nonprofits to reduce energy costs by
making their facilities more efficient.
Alaska.--Support LED Streetlight Replacement in 64 Rural Alaska
Communities. The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) used SEP funds to
support outdoor lighting retrofits in rural communities. Through a
public-private partnership, AEA's Village Energy Efficiency Program
(VEEP), and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, communities have actively
managed to implement their projects totaling $2,156,851. Fourteen sites
are complete, 594 lights have been replaced, and 225,774 kilowatt-hours
(kWh) per year will be saved. Cost per kWh in these communities ranges
between $0.19--$0.86. All 64 sites are expected to be complete by
September 30, 2021.
California.--Supports Development of Appliance Standards.
California uses SEP funds to develop and implement appliance and
building standards. In 2020, appliance standards became effective for
general services lamps (GSL), walk-in coolers and freezers, ceiling
fans, ceiling fan light kits, portable air conditioners, spray
sprinkler bodies, and pool pumps. New appliance standards will lead to
energy and cost savings. For example, after GSL stock turns over,
annual electricity savings will be 4,000-13,600 gigawatt-hours;
portable air conditioners will realize 369 gigawatt-hours in savings;
spray sprinkler bodies will save 150 billion gallons of water per year;
and pool pump motors will save 62 gigawatt-hours annually.
Delaware.--Evaluation of Energy Efficiency, Green Energy and
Weatherization Programs. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources
and Environmental Control's Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy
recently completed the Year 2 comprehensive evaluation of our Energy
Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF), Green Energy Fund (GEF) and
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The evaluation was done by an
independent contractor as required by the Evaluation, Measurement and
Verification (EM&V) regulations that are promulgated in Delaware. The
Total Resource Cost (TRC) test results from the evaluation were 2.98
for EEIF; 1.38 for GEF; and 1.22 for WAP. In other words, with TRCs
above 1.0, our programs are successfully leveraging funds at a rate
greater than every dollar we invest.
Illinois.--Achieved 2,431,955 kWh Annual Savings in Environmental
Justice Communities. The Illinois Energy Office used SEP funds to
support upgrades at four publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants in
2020, leveraging $16,018,574 in matching funds from municipalities and
saving 2,431,955 kWhs annually. Of the total $2,527,424 in funds
awarded, 79% of was granted to facilities serving EJ communities.
Kentucky.--Support COVID-19 Energy System Response, Provided
Generators for COVID-19 Testing Sites. The Kentucky Office of Energy
Policy (KY OEP) used SEP funds to perform critical emergency functions
in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the commonwealth's
response, KY OEP coordinated with the Kentucky Public Service
Commission to support Emergency Support Function 12--Energy (ESF-12);
Commonwealth agencies' response to energy issues in the Commonwealth;
state level situational awareness around energy issues during an
emergency; and with the private sector for the emergency repair and
restoration of critical public energy utilities (i.e. gas, electric,
fuels, etc.).
Louisiana.--Key Corridor LED Lighting Results in Energy Cost and
GHG Reductions. The Louisiana State Energy Office partnered with
Orleans Parish to install LED street lighting along two highway
corridors, resulting in an estimated savings of approximately 40
percent in utilities costs, annual energy savings of 9,520,754 kWh,
7,946 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The project was made possible
through the SEP-supported Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund, a
program that was established in 2001 to offer low interest, tax exempt
financing for public entities implementing approved renewable energy
and energy efficient upgrades. The program has resulted in over 30 low
interest public sector loans totaling $23.6 million.
Maine.--Support Clean Energy and Climate Efforts, Energy Efficiency
Initiatives, and COVID Coordination. In Maine, the Governor's Energy
Office (GEO) used SEP funding to pursue, develop, and implement nation-
leading energy initiatives, including a floating offshore wind
demonstration project and new programs aimed at installing 100,000 new
high efficiency air source heat pumps by 2025. In 2020, the GEO
assisted in the development of the state's 4-year climate action plan--
Maine Won't Wait. This plan outlines how Maine will achieve the
statutory requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of 45 percent
by 2030 from 1990 levels and 80 percent by 2050.
Michigan.--Energy Efficiency Upgrades Help Michigan Communities
Save $241,874 Annually. The Michigan Energy Office-supported Community
Energy Management (CEM) program enabled energy benchmarking in 708,380
square feet of buildings, with initial savings estimates of $241,874
annually after energy efficiency upgrades. CEM, funded in part by SEP,
offers financial incentives directly to municipalities, tuition-free K-
12 schools, and other community-serving public entities to accelerate
the transition to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Projects
range from creating energy plans, benchmarking and auditing, lighting
and HVAC, to solar installations. This program allows communities to
lead by example.
Montana.--Delivers Personal Protective Equipment to Essential
Workers, Leads Energy Emergency Response. The Montana Energy Office
leveraged SEP funding to respond to energy emergencies resulting from
the COVID-19 pandemic, including delivering personal protective
equipment to essential energy workers. The Montana Energy Office
coordinates the state's Emergency Support Function 12 (ESF-12), the
team charged with monitoring and responding to energy supply
emergencies. Leveraging key funding from the State Energy Program,
Montana's ESF-12 team reached out to utilities, refineries, and
businesses across the energy sector to determine impacts of the
pandemic on energy supply operations.
New Hampshire.--Reduced Local School Energy Costs. One example of
the results of New Hampshire's annual School Energy Efficiency
Development (SEED) grant program is the Lempster Community School. This
schools saved over $7,000 in annual energy costs in 2020.
New Mexico.--Grid Modernization Roadmap Improves the Reliability,
Efficiency, and Security of the Power System. In 2020, SEP funds were
used to provide support for the development of the Energy Grid
Modernization Roadmap that will help New Mexico improve the
reliability, efficiency, and security of the power system. The New
Mexico State Energy Office launched the Grid Modernization Advisory
Group in September 2020.
North Dakota.--Deploy Solar Panels Bolster Resiliency, Educate
Students at Career Academy. Supported installation of 115 panels and an
inverter at the Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy in October 2020.
In addition to powering the building, instructors at the school plan to
start incorporating the panels into their lessons. The solar array was
funded by a $92,000 State Energy Program grant though the North Dakota
Department of Commerce.
Oregon.--Transitioning to Cleaner, Low-Carbon Energy Future. The
Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) released its 2020 Biennial Energy
Report, which covers a range of energy topics germane to the state, and
is designed to inform the legislature, state and local governments,
other key stakeholders, and the public on policy development, planning,
and investments. The 2020 Report offers discussions on an array of
energy topics, including decarbonization, the transition of the
electric grid, innovation in the natural gas system, cleaner
transportation, the effects of the pandemic on the energy sector, and
the built environment and Oregon's communities.
South Carolina.--Support Electric Vehicles and Decrease GHG
Emissions from State Fleet. Using SEP funds, the South Carolina Energy
Office purchased the first state fleet electric vehicle (EV) and
installed EV charging stations at state parks. In 2016, the State
Energy Plan included a ``Lead by Example'' recommendation to increase
transportation fuel efficiency and diversity.
Tennessee.--Creates Plan to Double EV Charging Stations. The
Tennessee Energy Office used SEP funds to support the roll-out of a
statewide network of EV fast-charging stations, which will result in
doubling the number of available EV fast-chargers. In 2019, Drive
Electric Tennessee released a roadmap to increase EV adoption to
200,000 EVs (up from 11,000 EVs). This network will connect rural and
urban areas and will improve efficiency and resiliency.
Vermont.--Support Low-Carbon Technologies Through Rate Design
Initiative. In Vermont, the State Energy Office directed SEP funds to
support the development of the Vermont Rate Design Initiative (RDI),
which identified advanced forms of load management and rate designs to
foster low-carbon technologies, customer-sited renewables, and energy
storage that will further energy and environmental objectives while
minimizing ratepayer challenges from electrification and power sector
transformation over the long term. The Department of Public Service
continues to build on progress in the RDI through its role as the State
Energy Office.
Washington.--Develop State Energy Strategy, Prioritizes Underserved
Communities. Washington's Energy Office helped the state move toward a
clean, affordable, and just energy future by completing legislative
rulemakings, developing a new state energy strategy, and incorporating
equity principles into clean energy programs. Washington completed
rules related to the clean electricity, clean buildings and new energy
efficient appliance standards legislation passed in 2019. The state
charted the next frontier of energy policy opportunities by completing
the 2021 State Energy Strategy. The State Energy Office also
administers the Clean Energy Fund grant awards, which prioritize
communities underserved by EV infrastructure.
Wisconsin.--Create a $25 Million Energy Innovation Program. The
Wisconsin State Energy Office implemented a program for manufacturers,
municipalities, tribes, and k-12 school districts to increase energy
efficiency and the use of renewable energy and transportation
technologies, bolster resiliency in the energy system, and advance
energy planning. For example, $5 million provided to 30 that leveraged
$4.5 million in local and private energy investments.
[This statement was submitted by David Terry, Executive Director,
National
Association of State Energy Officials.]
______
Prepared Statement of the National Hydropower Association
The National Hydropower Association (NHA) respectfully requests
$222 million for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Water Power
Technologies Office (WPTO) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Energy and
Water Development Appropriations measure. NHA recommends at least the
authorized level of $137 million for marine energy along with the Biden
Administration request of $85 million for the hydropower program, with
full funding of both the EPAct 2005 Section 242 hydroelectric
production incentive program and the Section 243 efficiency incentive
program. NHA also supports robust funding for the operations and
maintenance (O&M) programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
and Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec) to increase capacity and generation
at their facilities, addressing the billions of dollars of backlogged
O&M needs.
funding justification
The U.S. water power industry has tremendous beneficial impacts on
our nation's electric grid, the economy, and environment. Hydropower
delivers almost 40% of total U.S. renewable electricity generation and
pumped storage projects provide 93% of total energy storage in the
country. Hydropower also avoids approximately 200 million metric tons
of CO2 emissions each year. In addition to providing affordable,
renewable power to the grid, hydropower and pumped storage help
integrate greater amounts of variable renewable generation, such as
wind and solar, while maintaining grid reliability and resilience.
Finally, thousands of Americans have high value employment due to water
power projects in every region of the country.
Yet, the industry is poised to do even more. The U.S. has
significant underutilized water power resources, including non-powered
dams, conduits, new pumped storage, and marine energy. Advancement of
new and innovative technologies, operations, and approaches to harness
these resources in a globally competitive marketplace is greatly
enhanced by federal funding that augments research, development, and
deployment (RD&D) efforts underway in the private sector. A growing
U.S. water power industry will support efforts to address climate
change and reduce carbon emissions, assist in grid reliability and
resiliency, while also advancing our national economic goals. Increased
funding is critical and will help create high-quality employment and
support businesses across the country that comprise the water power
supply chain.
NHA commends Congress for its increased support of the DOE WPTO in
recent years, culminating in the $150 million funding level in FY 2021.
However, this investment still remains well below that historically
afforded other DOE renewable R&D programs. For comparison, the Biden
Administration just requested an additional $106 million for the Solar
Energy Office, which is currently funded at $273 million. Meanwhile,
more than 5 GW of new solar capacity was installed in the U.S. during
the first quarter of 2021, with total U.S. solar capacity now over 100
GW. This is up from just 1 GW of U.S. solar capacity in 2009. These
commercial deployments are subsidized with approximately $2.5 billion
of yearly federal expenditures through the Investment Tax Credit.
The view of NHA and its members is that these significant and
sustained federal technology RD&D and market acceleration initiatives
are one of the critical factors related to the tremendous growth in
U.S. solar (and wind) deployments over the past decade. A similar level
of federal investment for water power is required to accelerate the
pace of technology demonstrations and deployments, reduce costs, and
increase adoption.
NHA greatly appreciates the significant proposed FY 2022 budget
increase for the WPTO, particularly that of the hydropower program,
which NHA strongly supports. NHA's FY 2022 request builds on the
foundation of the Administration's budget request by seeking $137
million for the marine energy program. This represents full funding of
the reauthorized levels adopted as part of the Water Power R&D Act of
2020, enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
NHA also supports full funding of the EPAct 2005 hydropower incentives
within the $85 million for the hydropower program, also reauthorized in
the FY 2021 appropriations bill. The Administration's FY 2022 budget
request did not include any funding for the incentives.
overview of doe water power technologies office investments
Last year, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021,
Congress renewed authorization of the DOE WPTO through passage of the
Water Power R&D Act of 2020 and the Reliable Investment in Vital Energy
Reauthorization Act (RIVER Act). These measures authorize investments
in water power technology innovation and deployment as well as
workforce development efforts. These federal investments are essential
to create high value job growth and maximize the contribution of
renewable water power resources as part of a 100% clean energy future.
The Water Power R&D bill provides annual authorization levels for
the DOE WPTO RD&D activities for FY 2021-2025 of $137 million for
marine energy and $49 million for hydropower. NHA views these
recommendations as the minimum required to support WPTO investments on
innovation of advanced technologies to increase power production and
reduce costs, improve grid reliability and resilience, create new
market opportunities that improve economic growth, and fund cross-
institutional foundational research to support workforce development.
In addition, the RIVER Act authorizes $10 million per year for the
Section 242 hydroelectric production incentive and $10 million per year
for the Section 243 hydroelectric efficiency incentive, both of which
were first adopted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The
production incentive, which is currently oversubscribed, provides
financial support for new hydropower facilities constructed at existing
dams and conduits and was amended to include new small hydro projects
constructed in areas of inadequate electric service. The efficiency
incentive, which supports capital improvements at existing hydropower
facilities that improve efficiency by at least three percent, has not
previously received appropriations.
Hydropower.--NHA supports the Biden Administration request of $85
million for the hydropower program, with $10 million for Section 242
and $10 million for Section 243. Hydropower is a proven renewable
electricity resource, accounting for nearly 7% of all U.S. electricity
production. However, increased WPTO investments can significantly
expand generation from this resource. For example, only 3% of the
approximately 80,000 existing dams in the U.S. currently generate
electricity. Other growth opportunities include increasing efficiencies
and expanding capacity at existing hydropower projects, new pumped
storage facilities, and new small hydro development. Pumped storage
represents a significant opportunity because of its increased grid
reliability benefits, additional energy storage, and support for the
integration of intermittent renewable generation resources.
The WPTO invests in hydropower technology RD&D for innovative
standardized and modular approaches to hydropower development that can
lower project costs versus traditional projects. For small hydropower
specifically, the WPTO supports standardization of new turbine designs,
as well as new advanced materials and manufacturing across the sector,
including applications at non-powered dams, irrigation channels, and
other waterways. This work increases generation opportunities with
innovations that also improve environmental performance. It also helps
reduces costs for companies that have capitalization challenges to fund
this work. The WPTO supports DOE's Advanced Energy Storage Initiative
and focuses on the role of hydropower and pumped storage in grid
reliability and resiliency by supporting innovative technologies and
conducting new research to evaluate and improve the flexibility and
grid services provided by these projects. The WPTO also supports
development of innovative environmental mitigation technologies, such
as novel fish passage systems and other advancements.
Marine Energy.--NHA requests at minimum the $137 million for the
marine energy program that was authorized on a bipartisan basis in the
Water Power R&D Act. Marine energy technologies-powered by water-based
renewable resources such as currents, tides, and waves-are undergoing
rapid innovation and will be critical in helping to reach 100% clean
energy targets and related climate change goals by 2035. Marine energy
will also provide benefits to the electric system and facilitate off-
grid ``Blue Economy'' market opportunities. These benefits include
marine energy's location near demand loads, relative predictability,
generating profiles, and resiliency. Finally, marine energy has
significant near-term promise, particularly in coastal, riverine, and
island environments that currently rely on high-cost fossil fuels.
Marine energy technologies offer the opportunity to provide lower cost
power while dramatically reducing harmful emissions for widely
distributed, previously underserved, or economically distressed
waterfront communities.
The U.S. has substantial marine energy resources, which are
geographically diverse, reliable, predictable, and environmentally
friendly. DOE conservatively estimates the marine energy resource in
all 50 states at 2,300 TWh/year, equivalent to 57% of U.S. electricity
generation (based on 2019 numbers). Utilizing just 10% of this
potential resource would equate to nearly 6% of total generation and
represents more than three times current solar generation, one quarter
of the U.S. coal fleet, and is enough to power approximately 22 million
homes.
The WPTO supports RD&D for marine energy systems and subsystems
ultimately leading to reduced costs and increased deployments. The WPTO
validates the reliability of marine energy technologies and the value
of integrating energy from prototype devices into the electric grid and
Blue Economy applications. These funds provide risk mitigation,
technical advancement and review, and early market growth
opportunities. The program has now established the following four focus
areas:
1-Materials and Components Research and Development; 2-Systems
Integration and Validation; 3-Testing and Reliability; and, 4-
Data, Modeling, and Analysis
NHA strongly supports additional funding in these focus areas.
There are wide ranges of design approaches to marine energy systems. It
is likely that different designs will be most effective in diverse
resource areas or for various market applications. Increased funding is
required to support the design, construction, and validation of marine
energy systems in open water deployments, with a balanced approach
across resource areas that reflects the higher funding requirements of
more mature designs. In addition, a key barrier to marine energy
technology development is the difficulty of testing new designs.
Funding is needed to establish and expand testing infrastructure
including open-water test centers such as PacWave. Funds are also
needed to conduct the tests along with environmental monitoring
technologies and research to expedite permitting and in-water
demonstration.
Unfortunately, the budget submission failed to request funding for
the following focus areas, which NHA urges the subcommittee to support:
Foundational Research.--Marine energy technologies present unique
engineering challenges that require collaborative foundational
innovations by cross-institution teams of researchers. NHA urges
establishment of dedicated funding for foundational research activities
led by universities and other research institutions affiliated with the
National Marine Energy Centers to accelerate development of the marine
energy sector and help train a skilled workforce for the Labs and
industry.
Powering the Blue Economy (PBE).--Marine energy systems can be a
cost-effective and reliable power source in several distributed ``Blue
Economy'' markets, such as aquaculture, desalination, oil and gas
production, underwater data centers, and other emerging needs. However,
prototypes must be tailored to specific applications and their
performance demonstrated to facilitate adoption in these markets. NHA
urges continued funding of the WPTO PBE activities.
other agencies
NHA also recommends close DOE coordination with other agency
partners, including the U.S. Navy on national security applications for
marine energy devices, along with FERC, BOEM, and NOAA for regulatory
efficiencies to support deployment. For hydropower deployment,
continued DOE engagement with FERC, USACE, BuRec, and federal resource
agencies is needed to address the amount of time to permit and license
projects. Finally, NHA urges Congress to increase funding to USACE and
BuRec to operate, maintain, and upgrade their existing projects, as
well as to add non-federal hydropower development to their non-powered
infrastructure. NHA also believes there are ways to make this
investment that do not increase costs to the power customers. The
federal hydropower system makes up approximately half of U.S.
hydropower generation. Many of these projects have been identified, by
the owners themselves or by equipment suppliers, as candidates for
upgrade potential and/or have backlogged O&M needs. USACE and BuRec
projects make the federal government itself one of the largest
renewable energy providers in the U.S. Reinvesting in these projects
will help to address climate change, provide economic and job
opportunities, and maximize the benefits of this public infrastructure.
[This statement was submitted by Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO,
National Hydropower Association.]
______
Prepared Statement of the National Marine Manufacturers Association
Dear Chairwoman Feinstein and Ranking Member Kennedy,
On behalf of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA),
I thank you for convening this hearing to review the FY22 budget
submission for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau
of Reclamation (USBR). The Biden Administration and 117th Congress face
perhaps the most daunting challenges of our generation: rebuilding our
country from the health and economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19
pandemic and addressing the global climate crisis. As the subcommittee
looks to bolster the economy and address climate change through the
FY22 appropriations cycle, we stress that USACE and USBR, leaders in
providing public access for water-based recreation opportunities, have
the resources and funding necessary to manage and build more resilient
public recreation access, protect vulnerable communities, and rebuild
local economies through facilitating recreation economic activity.
NMMA is the trade association for the U.S. recreational boating
industry, representing nearly 1,300 marine businesses, including
recreational boat, marine engine and accessory manufacturers. NMMA
members collectively manufacture more than 85 percent of the marine
products sold in the U.S. Furthermore, the recreational boating
industry has a significant impact on our nation's economy and in
communities across the country, employing nearly 700,000 American jobs
across 35,000 U.S.-based marine businesses.
Led by the recreational boating industry, the outdoor recreation
economy is a major contributor to the U.S. economy, accounting for 2.1%
of GDP, $788 billion in economic output, and 5.2 million American jobs.
The role of recreational boating in our economy has only grown more
significant as Americans flocked to new outdoor activities amidst the
COVID-19 pandemic, with sales of new powerboats in the U.S. increasing
last year by an estimated 12% compared to 2019, reaching a 13-year
high. Over 44,000 new boat buyers entered the market between March and
June 2020, representing 10% year-over-year growth. There are many
encouraging aspects of this new growth including that roughly 30
percent of the industry's growth was made up of new buyers, may of
which were younger and more diverse.
While this rise has showcased the popularity of such activities as
a safe and fun way to spend time with loved ones, it has also
illuminated one of the most pressing issues facing the industry: the
need for adequate, sound, and up-to-date infrastructure that meets
demand. Given that a majority of public recreation access
infrastructure is already in need of significant maintenance and
modernizations, our aging access points and facilities are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of climate change. From rapidly changing
water levels to increased frequency and intensity of flooding events
and natural disasters in coastal and inland waterway areas, public
waterways and outdoor recreation infrastructure need bolstered
resilience. Without robust investment in our country's outdoor
recreation infrastructure, these economic contributions--along with
pastimes enjoyed by the vast majority of Americans--will be in
jeopardy.
Considering that boating and fishing are the top contributing
segments within the recreation economy and USACE and USBR together
offer the majority of water-based recreation opportunities, significant
potential to grow the outdoor economy-- and the entire U.S. economy--
can be achieved through elevating these agencies' role in supporting
recreation, which must be reflected in the appropriations cycle. Higher
prioritization of these agencies recreation-oriented activities can be
achieved through ensuring adequate funding from existing programs and
funding authorities and reforming antiquated project prioritization
processes that neglect to recognize the significant economic,
environmental, societal, and health benefits generated by recreation.
For example, USACE has over 5,000 sites in 43 states, generating
over $10 billion in economic impact and supporting 189,000 total jobs,
yet a majority of access infrastructure managed by USACE is in poor
condition. Of note, there were 256 million visits to USACE lake and
river projects in 2020 compared to the 237 million visitors NPS hosted.
Providing USACE and USBR with the necessary tools and resources to
better manage and support recreation access will go a long way towards
preserving the nation's lakes, reservoirs, rivers, waterways and the
economic impact of outdoor recreation.
It's important to note that USACE and USBR accounts that support
recreation are historically underfunded and both agencies are more
often than not completely excluded from or benefit considerably less
than other agencies through significantly impactful federal lands and
waters policy and funding mechanism such as the Federal Lands
Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) and the Great American Outdoors Act
(GAOA). For instance, While USACE manages recreation visitation and
transportation infrastructure asset catalogues on scale with the
National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and
the U.S. Forest Service (FS), these three agencies 1) are able to
retain a portion of recreation fee revenue to reinvest in recreation
infrastructure through FLREA authority, 2) are all GAOA recipients,
with NPS receiving 70 percent of total GAOA deferred maintenance
funding, and 3) receive direct set asides from the Federal Lands
Transportation Program (FLTP) that takes up a majority of the programs
funding leaving USACE, USBR, and BLM (another GAOA recipient) to
compete for any remaining funding to go towards maintaining
infrastructure that provides access to high-visitation.
On the navigation side of USACE activities, small recreation-based
ports are critical access points for inland and coastal communities
where businesses depend on marine recreation-based economic activity.
Yet, the benefit cost ration (BCR) criteria used to prioritize USACE
navigation projects only recognizes commercial activity in assessing
project economic benefits, failing to account for the value created by
access for recreation activities leaving our economy at a disadvantage.
Additionally, without sufficient dredging in recreation-based harbors
and waterways, some recreational boaters are forced to use high traffic
commercial channels, which can lead to potential user conflicts and
safety concerns. The federal government has a responsibility to
maintain all of nation's ports, harbors, and waterways, yet for too
long water infrastructure projects that support recreation access have
gone underappreciated and neglected, does not consistently account for
recreation within the scope of economic benefits a project provides.
Additionally, given that 84 percent of the U.S. recreational boating
industry is made up of small businesses, this commonsense modernization
of an antiquated process for prioritizing water infrastructure projects
will reenergize Main Street in coastal communities across the country.
BCR reform that would require USACE and the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) to account for recreation as an economic impact in project
prioritization would exercise a more comprehensive approach that
ensures critical water infrastructure projects are funded on an
equitable, sustainable, and needs based system.
Systemic underfunding of these agencies' recreation facilities and
management, combined with USACE's lack of authority to reinvest
recreation fees into revenue-generating infrastructure assets, have
allowed this infrastructure to decay in the face of rising demand.
Maintaining this status quo jeopardizes the safety and viability of
recreation opportunities managed by the leading providers of water-
based public recreation access. Solutions that can be taken through the
FY22 process to address these deficiencies include:
--An additional investment of $40 million in the Operations &
Maintenance account allocated to USACE Natural Resources
Management (NRM) to continue the operation, maintenance, and
repair of existing recreation facilities and public access
including unfunded infrastructure maintenance needed to sustain
existing facilities at full capacity.
--Direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a
survey to provide an inventory of all federally managed
recreational boating infrastructure and facilities; an
assessment of annual operation and maintenance needs associated
with these sites; deferred operation and maintenance needs for
such infrastructure and facilities to operate safely at full
capacity; opportunities to expand capacity at existing access
points; and the economic impact of recreation on regional
economies and benefits of sustaining and improving public
access at recreational infrastructure and facilities.
--Dedicated Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) set-aside
funding for USACE and USBR at amounts commensurate with each
respective agencies' public transportation improvement needs
and visitation demand.
--Extension of recreation fee retention authorities under FLREA to
USACE to provide a much-needed revenue source to improve the
quality of recreational assets and services and address the
backlog of maintenance needs.
--Reform BCR criteria to require USACE and OMB to account for
recreation as an economic impact to establish an equitable,
sustainable, and needs-based system for prioritization USACE
navigation projects.
On behalf of our members, I thank you for your leadership in
preparing FY22 appropriations legislation and appreciate the
opportunity to provide comments on how recreation infrastructure can
play an important role in economic recovery. NMMA stands ready to work
with you ensure adequate funding for federal land and water agencies
integral to providing public recreation access, and better enable the
thriving outdoor sector to get Americans back to work and revive local
economies across the country.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Callie Hoyt, Director, Federal
Government
Relations, National Marine Manufacturers Association.]
______
Prepared Statement of the National Water Resources Association
Chairwoman Feinstein and Ranking Member Kennedy,
Thank you for your efforts and attention to the importance of water
infrastructure and its critical connection to our nation's economic
wellbeing and recovery. You are not alone in recognizing the importance
of water to our nation and its economy. The National Water Resources
Association (NWRA) shares this conviction. As you embark on efforts to
develop the FY2022 Energy and Water Appropriations bill we urge you to
include robust funding for both the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)
and the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Under your leadership
appropriations for Reclamation and USACE have increased in recent
years. We thank you for this funding. We now ask that you double down
on this effort and further increase funds allocated to our nations
water infrastructure. Increasing appropriations dedicated to water
infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to protect human
health and drive economic recovery in both the near and long term.
The NWRA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit federation of state water
resources associations, regional associations, agricultural, and
municipal water providers. Our members provide water and hydropower to
approximately 50 million individuals, families, agricultural producers,
and other businesses in a manner that supports communities, the
economy, and the environment. Our membership spans the Western United
States as well as portions of the Southeastern United States.
In light of the country's current economic concerns, it is
important to emphasize the positive impact water infrastructure has on
both our health and the economy. Water infrastructure systems provide
communities, businesses, industry, agricultural producers and our
citizens with an all-important supply of water that is needed not only
to survive and thrive, but to drive economy recovery.
Reclamation and USACE water infrastructure is a cornerstone of our
nation's economy and will be a catalyst for economic recovery and
prosperity. A total of approximately $20 billion dollars was required
to build Reclamation's entire infrastructure system.\1\ Every year,
this infrastructure returns over $63 billion in direct and associated
economic activity.\2\ The USACE delivers similar economic benefit.
Between 2010 and 2013, each dollar invested in USACE civil works
generated about $16 in economic benefits and $5 in U.S. Treasury
revenues.\3\ In other words, every year our economy recoups its
investment in Reclamation and USACE projects multiple times over. These
economic benefits are realized in communities large and small
throughout the nation.
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\1\ CRS Report R41844 The Reclamation Fund: A Primer https://
crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R41844.
\2\ U.S. Department of the Interior, Department of the Interior's
Economic Report FY 2018 https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/
uploads/fy-2018-econ-report-final-9-30-19-v2.pdf.
\3\ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Determining the return on
investment of Civil Works projects: A look behind the scenes, Sept. 28,
2017 https://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Stories/Article/1328990/
determining-the-return-on-investment-of-civil-works-projects-a-look-
behind-the/.
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As the congressional panel which funds both Reclamation and the
USACE we ask you to please support strong funding levels for water
infrastructure across the board. We also recommend robust and targeted
appropriations that would:
--Invest in aging infrastructure for both the delivery and storage of
water. Both Reclamation and the USACE have multi-billion dollar
aging infrastructure backlogs. On April 21, 2021 Reclamation
released its Asset Management Report. In this report
Reclamation identified approximately 2,800 major rehabilitation
and replacement activities (MR&R) with estimated cost totaling
$11.9 billion over the next 30 years.\4\ Investing in aging
infrastructure now, including implementation and funding of the
aging infrastructure authority provided in recent omnibus
(Division FF, Title XI, Sec.1101 of P.L. 116-260), will save
considerable dollars. If these needs are ignored infrastructure
will degrade, water services and the communities that depend on
them will suffer, and repair and replacement costs will grow.
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\4\ U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Asset Management
Report, April 21, 2021 https://www.usbr.gov/infrastructure/docs/asset-
management-report-to-congress.pdf.
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Last year Congress authorized a new Aging Infrastructure revolving
loan program for Reclamation, the Administration has requested $1
million dollars for this program. This is not sufficient. We
respectfully request you increase funding in this account to $10
million for FY2022.
--In recognition of climate impacts on water supply increase funding
to; enhance, maintain, and upgrade physical infrastructure at
surface, groundwater, and conjunctive use projects to help
capture water in wet years for use in dry years. This would be
cost effective, ease drought effects, address flooding and
minimize environmental impact.
--Fund partnerships with state and/or local entities, to perform work
on non-federal projects to optimize storage and delivery
capability. Allow federal investment in repairing non-federal
dams which are deemed unsafe by state regulators. When states
limit reservoir capacity because of safety hazards to a full
reservoir, the local community served by these reservoirs
suffers economically.
--Provide a significant infusion of construction funds to the already
under construction Reclamation rural water projects. These
projects receive insufficient annual funding, increasing their
total cost and forcing rural and tribal communities to wait
even longer for safe and reliable drinking water supplies.
Completing these projects would open additional funding
opportunity to develop water efficiencies and better manage
long-term drought impacts.
--Increasing investment in water re-use and recycling projects.
This concept has experienced growing interest and advanced technology
has made such projects more efficient and effective.
--Embrace technology and invest in effective green infrastructure
projects including water conservation, fish passage, efficiency
technologies, and habitat restoration.
--Identify and expand hydropower opportunities to support energy
independence and carbon emissions reduction.
We welcome the opportunity to work with you and support your
efforts to provide a significant increase of funding to Reclamation and
the USACE.
Thank you for your consideration and your attention to the
importance of our nation's water infrastructure. Please do not hesitate
to contact me at [email protected] if you would like any additional
information. Thank you again for your dedication to our nation and its
water infrastructure.
Respectfully.
[This statement was submitted by Ian Lyle, Executive Vice
President, National Water Resources Association.]
______
Prepared Statement of The Nature Conservancy
Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy and members of the
Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present The Nature
Conservancy's (TNC's) testimony on fiscal year 2022 (FY22)
appropriations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation) and Department of Energy (DOE). TNC
respectfully requests the Subcommittee's support for programs and
investments needed to ensure the economic and environmental benefits of
this work are enhanced today and made sustainable for tomorrow.
u.s. army corps of engineers
Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery: Ongoing oyster restoration work has
functionally restored several tributaries in Virginia and Maryland,
demonstrating that strong partnerships between private, state and
federal agencies can accomplish tangible outcomes in the Chesapeake
Bay. TNC supports the administration's FY22 budget request of $3.88
million to continue the essential work of restoring the eastern oyster.
Claiborne and Millers Ferry Locks and Dams (Fish Passage) Study,
Lower Alabama River: The Claiborne and Millers Ferry locks and dams
were built in the 1950s and 1960s to ease navigation and produce
hydropower on the Alabama River. They also expanded recreational
opportunities along the river. Unfortunately, they became major
roadblocks for species that migrate up the Alabama River and into the
Cahaba River. This study, for which TNC is the non-federal sponsor,
will examine options for ecologically reconnecting the rivers. TNC
supports the administration's FY22 budget request of $600,000 for the
study.
Engineering With Nature (EWN): The Corps' EWN initiative is using a
collaborative, science-based approach to better deliver a full range of
economic, social and environmental benefits from the Corps' water
resources infrastructure. It is also leading work to share, train and
support Corps districts and other partners on how to effectively
develop nature-based projects. Its innovative approaches are building
stronger, more resilient communities and a healthier environment. TNC
was pleased Congress created a new budget line for EWN in FY21
appropriations. TNC urges the Subcommittee to maintain funding for EWN
at $12.5 million.
Hatchie/Loosahatchie Habitat Restoration Study (Tennessee and
Arkansas): The Lower Mississippi River supports diverse fish and
wildlife populations as well as outdoor recreation opportunities, yet
it has access to just 10 percent its original floodplain. Ecological
restoration can improve fish and wildlife habitat, facilitate
groundwater infiltration and nutrient processing and provide
recreational opportunities without negatively impacting flood risk
management and navigation. This study is an important start in that
effort. TNC supports the FY22 budget request of $600,000 for the study.
Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP): NESP is an
important, dual-purpose program that allows the Corps to address both
navigation and ecosystem restoration in an integrated approach along
the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Past committee support led
to $5 million in pre-construction engineering and design (PED) funding
in the Corps' FY21 work plan. TNC requests the Subcommittee include
$22.5 million for NESP in FY22 and the authority to begin construction
to continue this important work and advance the program's navigation
and ecosystem restoration benefits.
St. Louis Riverfront-Meramec River Basin Ecosystem Restoration: The
Meramec River basin of central Missouri is among the most biologically
significant river basins in North America. It contains diverse and rare
aquatic and terrestrial species, including six species of endangered
mussels. The Corps has completed an ecosystem restoration feasibility
study of critical restoration projects within the Meramec River basin,
which Congress authorized for construction in the Water Resource
Development Act of 2020. TNC requests $1.4 million for PED for the
project in FY22.
Sustainable Rivers Program (SRP): SRP is an initiative to modernize
the operations of the nation's reservoirs to enhance water supply,
flood protection, hydropower generation and recreation while restoring
critical ecosystems and the economically valuable services they
provide. The challenges related to providing water supply and flood
protection are growing and will only increase due to climate change.
SRP works collaboratively with local communities, water stakeholders,
states and other federal agencies to update decades-old water
management practices to better meet society's needs. With increased
funding in FY20 and FY21, the Corps has been able to significantly
expand the program from 16 rivers encompassing 66 reservoirs and 5,083
downstream river miles to 36 rivers encompassing 78 reservoirs, 10,114
downstream river miles in addition to new water infrastructure like
locks and dams. TNC requests maintaining funding at $5 million for the
SRP in FY22.
Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) Program: UMRR supports
coordinated habitat rehabilitation and enhancement projects and
monitoring for the upper Mississippi River system. Thirty years of
successful partnership has completed more than 56 projects benefiting
more than 107,000 acres of aquatic and floodplain habitat. Completion
of new projects in the pipeline will benefit an additional 75,000 acres
of aquatic and floodplain habitat. TNC supports full authorized funding
of $55 million for UMRR in FY22.
bureau of reclamation
Cooperative Watershed Management Program: This program helps
diverse water interests throughout a watershed--tribes, local and state
governments, landowners, farmers and ranchers, and nongovernmental
organizations--work collaboratively to develop regional, multi-benefit
water solutions. Applicants can use funding through Phase 1 of the
program to help communities form watershed groups to assess and develop
projects that respond to community water needs, and they can use
funding through Phase 2 to help fund those projects. With so many
successful Phase 1 groups now ready with plans and projects, TNC
requests full funding for the Cooperative Watershed Management program
at $20 million in FY22.
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery and San Juan River
Basin Recovery Programs: These programs take a balanced approach to
recovering four endangered fish species by implementing a range of
basin-wide strategies and provide Endangered Species Act compliance for
more than 2,500 water projects. TNC requests full funding for these
programs, including $5.7 million in the FY22 budget request for capital
construction activities through the Upper Colorado Region's Endangered
Species Recovery Implementation Program. TNC also appreciates the
Subcommittee's efforts since FY19 to fund environmental programs for
the Colorado River at $21.4 million, a portion of which supports the
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan
River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. TNC requests continued
funding for these activities in FY22.
WaterSMART Program: The WaterSMART Program has new authority this
year to award grants to non-profit organizations working with
traditional grant recipients, provide higher levels of match for multi-
purpose projects and support nature-based solutions. These changes will
help prioritize projects that both enhance water delivery reliability
and benefit watershed health. Nevertheless, TNC remains concerned that
some projects funded through WaterSMART grants can increase consumptive
use of water, which makes water shortages worse. TNC appreciates the
Subcommittee's past attention to the program and requests continued
oversight by again including report language similar to report language
accompanying FY21 appropriations and directing Reclamation to
prioritize multi-benefit projects, including such projects that
incorporate nature-based strategies.
u.s. department of energy
TNC supports robust funding for multiple DOE programs that
accelerate the advancement of clean energy technologies and facilitate
the department's shift in focus towards decarbonization of the U.S.
economy. This includes programs that were created or reauthorized by
the Energy Act of 2020.
Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy (ARPA-E): ARPA-E is an
innovative and successful program supporting ``high-risk, high-reward''
research that has the potential to drastically alter how the United
States makes and uses energy in the future. TNC requests at least $500
million in FY22.
Solar and Wind Energy Technologies: TNC requests strong funding for
overall research, development and deployment mission of these critical
energy technology offices, including at least $370 million for the
Solar Technology Office and at least $180 million for the Wind
Technology Office. TNC also requests that the following report language
be included:
The Committee provides no less than $30,000,000 for technology
development, testing and verification of technologies and other
research that help on- and offshore wind energy projects avoid,
minimize and mitigate impacts on wildlife and habitat. The department's
efforts should include technologies that enable near real-time
monitoring and mitigation system for large whales, technologies that
enable and improve scientific research into wind-wildlife interactions,
research on how to site wind to avoid impacts to the most sensitive
wildlife and habitat and research and demonstration projects to remove
barriers to adoption of wind technology on previously disturbed lands
such as landfills and former mines.
The Committee provides no less than $40,000,000 for technology
development, testing and verification of technologies and other
research that help solar energy projects avoid, minimize and mitigate
impacts on wildlife and habitat, including through improved scientific
research into avian-solar interactions, siting solar to avoid impacts
to the most sensitive wildlife and habitat and research and
demonstration projects to remove barriers to adoption of solar
technology on previously disturbed lands such as landfills and former
mines.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program
(SEP): Together, WAP and SEP provides critical funds to improve energy
efficiency across the country, with both programs found to provide at
least $4 in benefits for every federal dollar spent. TNC requests at
least $350 million in FY22 for WAP and $70 million for SEP. We would
also support additional funding for Challenge Grants as a supplement to
SEP as outlined in the president's FY22 budget request.
Industrial Emissions Reduction Technology Development Program: TNC
supports robust funding for this new program created under the Clean
Industrial Technology Act to help accelerate reductions in emissions
from industrial processes and manufacturing. That includes a specific
request of $80 million in FY22 for demonstration projects, as
authorized.
Advanced Nuclear Energy: TNC requests at least $405 million for the
existing Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program and $33.075 million for
the new Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Program as established by
the Energy Act of 2020.
Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage and Removal: TNC supports
robust funding for the Office of Fossil Energy to deploy carbon
management technologies. That includes a request of $871.3 million for
carbon capture program. Within that, $225 million should be allocated
to pilot projects, $500 million to demonstration projects and $50
million to support FEED studies. TNC also requests $200 million for the
carbon storage program and $55.25 million for carbon utilization. TNC
supports appropriations of at least $252.5 million across multiple
offices for RD&D related to carbon removal, including $115 million for
the DAC prizes and $63.5 million for the carbon dioxide removal program
established in Title V of the Energy Act of 2020.
Energy Storage: TNC requests at least $150 million in FY22 to
support DOE's Energy Storage Grand Challenge, including $100 million
for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and $50
million for the Office of Electricity.
Advanced Vehicle Technologies: TNC supports robust funding to help
advance the decarbonization of the transportation sector or the
development of new zero-carbon fuels for transportation and other end
uses. TNC requests at least $494 million for the Vehicle Technologies
Office and $200 million of the Office of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
Technologies.
Thank you for this opportunity to submit TNC's recommendations for
the FY22 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill.
[This statement was submitted by Jimmy Hague, Senior Water Policy
Advisor, The Nature Conservancy.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition
The NWSC is an ad hoc organization representing the collective
interests of member state utility regulators, consumer advocates,
attorneys general, and radiation control officials; tribal governments;
local governments; electric utilities with operating and/or shutdown
nuclear reactors; and other experts on nuclear waste policy matters. We
call upon Congress to appropriate funds in Fiscal Year 2022 to the
Department of Energy (DOE) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) such
that each agency has the sustainable annual funding necessary to
undertake critical activities related to their respective roles in
developing, managing, and regulating an integrated program for the
storage, transportation, and disposal of the nation's spent nuclear
fuel (SNF), Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) waste, and other high-level
radioactive waste (HLW). For DOE, these programs include:
--Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) Integrated Waste Management Systems
(IWMS) activities;
--NE Used Nuclear Fuel Disposition Research & Development activities;
--``Nuclear Waste Disposal'' activities per the FY 2021 Consolidated
Appropriations Act; and
--Activities necessary to develop and manage a national integrated
nuclear waste program, including establishment of and support
for an office dedicated to nuclear waste management.
For the NRC, that entails funding for activities necessary to
ensure the safety of a national integrated nuclear waste program,
including storage, transportation, and disposal of SNF and GTCC waste
from commercial nuclear power production. As a general matter,
direction to both agencies concerning these matters remains unclear,
and despite Congressional appropriations of a new $27.5 million to DOE
in FY 2021 for ``expenses necessary for nuclear waste disposal
activities to carry out the purposes of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of
1982, Public Law 97-425, as amended, including interim storage
activities,'' this funding did not establish the meaningful integrated
nuclear waste management program that our nation needs and that we have
gone without for more than a decade. Thus, our testimony focuses on the
need for Congress to both appropriate funds for such an integrated
program and to provide sustainable annual access to the Nuclear Waste
Fund (NWF). It also highlights our concerns with prior Senate-proposed
EWD language and our opposition to reinstatement of a uranium
enrichment decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) tax.
existing challenges to nuclear waste management
The national nuclear waste management program established under the
1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) was effectively terminated more
than a decade ago by executive action. Subsequently, Congress has
failed to provide meaningful direction or funding for that program or
any national integrated nuclear waste management program. Since 1983,
approximately $54 billion has been credited to the NWF, including over
$21 billion collected from electric ratepayers and over $28 billion in
interest that continues to accumulate at a rate of over $1.7 billion a
year. The approximately $43 billion balance sits stranded in U.S.
Treasury Securities and unappropriated for its intended purpose. These
facts have resulted in a de facto national policy of inaction that
negatively impacts:
--Host States & Communities. The de facto policy indefinitely strands
80,000 metric tons of commercial SNF and HLW at operating and
decommissioned reactor sites in 34 states without their
consent. At shutdown sites, the stranded waste impedes the
potential beneficial reuse of the property (e.g., conservation,
economic development).
--All U.S. Taxpayers. The de facto policy already has cost U.S.
taxpayers more than $8.6 billion, and this liability is growing
by approximately $2 million per day, money that could be used
for infrastructure and other purposes.
--Electric Customers. While no longer paying fees into the federal
NWF per court order, electric ratepayers in more than 40 states
paid billions of dollars that are not being used for their
intended purpose.
call for action & specific ewd requests
The federal government can and should establish a national
integrated nuclear waste management program and simultaneously reform
the federal budgetary treatment of the NWF to provide sustainable
annual access to the $43 billion balance and the accumulating future
interest. This action is needed now to avoid permanently stranding this
material in host states and communities; address the negative economic
impacts to states, communities, and taxpayers; and enable the federal
government to meet its statutory and contractual obligations to
electric customers under a law established nearly 40 years ago.
Specifically, the NWSC requests that Congress:
--Support reforms of the federal budgetary treatment of the NWF such
that sustainable annual access is provided to the funds
collected from electric customers to support the development
and management of a national integrated nuclear waste storage,
transportation, and disposal program.
--Fund establishment of a national integrated nuclear waste
management program, including:
--A dedicated office in DOE that reports directly to the Secretary
and focuses on nuclear waste management. A dedicated
nuclear waste management office would provide a focal point
for SNF and HLW work, facilitate necessary engagement with
external stakeholders, and demonstrate an intent and
commitment to take meaningful action. Congress has
previously recognized the importance of a single-purpose
entity that reports to the Secretary, and such an office
would benefit external stakeholders and DOE's workforce.
Whether coordinating with private entities on proposed
consolidated interim storage (CIS) facilities; interacting
with states and communities potentially interested in
hosting a nuclear waste management facility; or managing
future Congressional directives regarding the nation's
nuclear waste, there are substantial tasks that can be
pursued now, and DOE needs a dedicated team to focus on
these issues and meet with interested and affected parties.
--Simultaneous pursuit of permanent disposal and a CIS pilot with
priority for SNF from shutdown reactors. Because permanent
disposal is necessary and a determination on the Yucca
Mountain license application is necessary to move forward
on permanent disposal, Congress should provide both NRC and
DOE the funds necessary to resume their respective roles in
the license review. Simultaneously, Congress should provide
DOE funds to facilitate private or federal efforts to site
a pilot CIS facility with priority for waste stranded at
shutdown commercial nuclear power plant sites, and Congress
should provide NRC funds to carry out licensing activities
pertaining to such CIS facilities.
--Continuation and expansion of constructive initiatives related to
transportation infrastructure. Congress should fund work at
federal agencies that facilitates SNF transportation, as it
will be necessary regardless of destination. For example,
the assessment of transportation infrastructure needs at
shutdown plant sites and the testing, certification, and
procurement of railcars and licensed transportation
containers and components in sufficient quantities are
constructive activities that should continue.
--Increased financial and technical assistance to tribal, state,
and local governments. Such assistance for transportation-
related emergency preparedness training and activities will
provide the public greater assurance that the health,
safety, and welfare of its communities will be preserved
during SNF transport.
--Communicate to DOE that it is time to pursue measures beyond
information-gathering and reports, particularly on topics that
have been sufficiently examined by the Blue Ribbon Commission
on America's Nuclear Future, the U.S. Government Accountability
Office, et al.
We urge the Committee to address these items in its markup as a
critical step and urge Congress to restructure the funding and spending
mechanisms for the NWF to provide the necessary funding certainty to
implement an integrated nuclear waste management program over multiple
decades. This should include sustainable access to the NWF while
maintaining Congressional oversight of the program's progress. These
actions would demonstrate that Congress is committed to ensuring that
the federal government carries out its statutory and contractual
responsibilities.
concerns with prior senate ewd appropriations language
The NWSC has previously communicated concerns with certain Senate-
proposed provisions (e.g., Section 306 of S. 2470, 116th Cong., 2019).
First, such language would fail to move forward on CIS and permanent
disposal in parallel, a key element of a successful integrated nuclear
waste management program. Second, establishment of specific consent-
based siting requirements by statute is not necessary, as potential
hosts should have the flexibility to negotiate the process and
conditions that best serve the interests of their jurisdictions. Third,
it would not address underlying funding concerns while expanding
Congressional authority to tap the NWF and increase the potential for
restarting the fee on electric customers. Finally, such language raised
consequential questions about whether DOE will be allowed to engage
either federal or private initiatives to facilitate CIS and whether
access to the CIS may be limited.
Having reiterated concerns with previous language, the NWSC greatly
appreciates the EWD Subcommittee's focus on these important issues.
Additionally, we seek an opportunity to engage further with your team
on alternative approaches for making meaningful progress toward
establishment of a national integrated nuclear waste management
program.
uranium enrichment decontamination & decommissioning (d&d) tax
NWSC opposes reinstatement of a uranium enrichment D&D tax.
Although supportive of environmental cleanup of enrichment sites, U.S.
nuclear-generating utilities and their customers should not be singled
out again to pay for D&D of DOE facilities developed for national
defense.
closing
On behalf of the NWSC, we appreciate this opportunity, welcome
further engagement, and respectfully request that Congress address
these issues in a process with robust stakeholder input.
[This statement was submitted by Katrina McMurrian, Executive
Director,
Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Oregon Water Resources Congress
The Oregon Water Resources Congress (OWRC) has been concerned over
the last several years about reductions to the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) Civil Works budget and is supportive the President's
Proposed FY 2022 Budget requesting increased appropriations for this
program at $6.8 billion. The USACE Civil Works program addresses vital
water resource needs throughout the nation, and in Oregon, the USACE
Northwestern Division operates on our two largest river systems, the
Columbia River, and the Willamette River, as well as maintaining
Oregon's coastal rivers for navigation. Increased funding would help
support and leverage collaborative state level planning efforts by
USACE in Oregon and nationwide. A tangible example of the need is the
impending reallocation of water resources among USACE's thirteen Oregon
reservoirs among agricultural, municipal, and environmental uses.
OWRC was established in 1912 as a trade association to support the
protection of water rights and promote the wise stewardship of water
resources statewide. OWRC members are local governmental entities,
which include irrigation districts, water control districts, drainage
districts, water improvement districts, and other agricultural water
suppliers that deliver water to roughly 1/3 of all irrigated land in
Oregon. These water stewards operate and manage complex water
management systems, including water supply reservoirs, canals,
pipelines, and hydropower facilities.
Our members across Oregon face challenges related to irrigation
water supply, reliability, and aging infrastructure. While there are
common concerns and interests throughout irrigated agriculture, each
basin is unique, and necessitates local communities working together to
identify needs and developing solutions to best meet them. The two
largest river systems in Oregon (the Columbia River and the Willamette
River) are managed by USACE and play a vital role in providing not only
water supplies for agriculture, but also ports and passage for
transporting food and fiber globally, flood protection for communities,
fish and wildlife benefits, hydropower production, and recreation.
Additional funding for the Civil Works budget is needed to ensure USACE
has the necessary resources to meet the myriad of infrastructure needs
of those systems, without placing the entire burden on the backs of the
farmers and ranchers who produce food and fiber for our nation.
fy2022 appropriations
We recognize we must make strategic investments with scarce
resources. The USACE Civil Works program is a perfect example of a
budget that should have funding increased because the water
infrastructure it encompasses directly contributes to the economy as
well protecting public safety and the environment. OWRC feels strongly
USACE needs substantially increased funding to provide critical repairs
on our nation's aging water infrastructure to prevent catastrophic
failure, as well as address routine operations and maintenance on other
infrastructure before it becomes irreparable.
willamette basin reservoir study
The Portland District of the USACE Northwestern Division operates
thirteen dams and reservoirs in the Willamette Basin, with a combined
storage capacity of over 1.6 million acre-feet. The dams were
constructed primarily to protect downstream communities from flooding
but also store and release water for irrigation, hydropower generation,
water quality, fish and wildlife flows, and recreation. Since the
construction of the dams started in the 1930s, Oregon has seen a
dramatic increase in population, which in turn has spurred increased
development, agriculture, and a whole host of new demands on the
reservoirs. Municipal water entities would like access to available
stored water to better meet drinking water needs for growing
communities as well as businesses such as the high-tech industry.
Additionally, there are fish and wildlife species in the river system
listed under the Endangered Species Act and related ecosystem
restoration needs not contemplated when the facilities were
constructed.
Following years of stakeholder engagement, the Willamette Basin
Reservoir Study has been finalized and but there is still significant
work that needs to occur before any reallocation can occur. It is
crucial that ACOE remains at the table and collaboratively works with
state agencies and stakeholders to flush out various details needed to
determine how the reservoirs can best help meet the myriad of current
and future water demands in the Willamette Basin. OWRC would like to
see continued funding to support ongoing efforts related to the
implementation of the Willamette Reallocation included in the USACE
Civil Works FY 2022 budget to support this important effort.
additional funding programs
OWRC is encouraged by the recent additions to the USACE Civil Works
program including funding for climate change response and resiliency,
dam safety and earthquake hazard reduction; however, programs as
important as these should receive even more funding. Additional funding
is needed to support and leverage state efforts to identify and address
earthquake hazards. Oregon faces the risk of a catastrophic earthquake
from the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the state is in the early stages
of planning and mitigating to improve seismic resiliency. It is
uncertain when or how devastating the earthquake could be, but it is
clear there would be broad impacts, particularly since most
infrastructure was constructed prior to the discovery of the fault and
does not meet current seismic standards.
Aging water infrastructure is particularly vulnerable and there is
a significant need for financial and technical assistance to upgrade
reservoirs and other key facilities. Without increased earthquake
preparedness and dam safety funding, Oregon cannot mitigate the
potential damage. We encourage the House to further fund these programs
to effectively prepare the states for earthquakes and prevent
widespread devastation to people and property.
Additionally, like many other western states, Oregon has been
experiencing more frequent and severe drought conditions. For Oregon,
the drought stems from a lack of snowpack that serves as the natural
water storage throughout the year for many farms, communities, and fish
and wildlife. The impacts may take longer to show, but drought can be
as devastating as earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.
Impacts from prolonged drought take time to recover from and like
other natural disasters, the best way to survive and help communities
recover is through coordinated planning and developing diverse tools to
use when these crises occur. We know from our experience working with
our state agency and partner organizations in Oregon that funding for
planning, feasibility, and implementation of projects to increase
drought preparedness and resiliency is a cornerstone to an
economically, socially, and environmentally sound approach for a
sustainable water future.
In conclusion, we wholeheartedly support the proposed appropriation
of at least $6.8 billion for the USACE Civil Works budget for FY 2022.
The critical nature of the water infrastructure services the USACE
provides requires a budget that matches the seriousness of the national
need, and the importance of the water supply, navigation, public
safety, and other natural resources benefits it provides. Thank you for
the opportunity to provide testimony regarding the FY 2022 budget for
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by April Snell, Executive Director,
Oregon Water Resources Congress.]
______
Prepared Statement of Pearl Certification
As a national market leader in residential energy efficiency
certification, Pearl Certification (``Pearl'') respectfully urges your
support, through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Energy and Water Development
Appropriations bill, to provide robust funding to advance programs at
the Department of Energy (DOE) that invest in residential energy
efficiency and whole-house initiatives. The President's FY 2022 budget
request makes significant investments in the Weatherization Assistance
Program, State Energy Program, and Building Technologies Office. For
the many reasons detailed below, we urge Congress to continue support
for these programs and work to ensure that sub accounts within the DOE
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy are robustly funded so
that their important work may continue and expand.
Pearl provides third-party certification of high-performing homes;
homes that are healthy, comfortable, resilient, and energy efficient.
Pearl's certification drives demand for these improvements by making
them visible at time of appraisal, sale, and/or refinance, allowing
their full value to be captured in the sale price. The Pearl
Certification is designed to fill a gap that has existed in the
residential marketplace by helping consumers find and sell high-
performing homes with an easy-to-use, contractor-friendly certification
system that creates an inventory of the home's energy efficiency,
health, comfort, resilience and other ``high-performing'' assets.\1\
Pearl has created networks of elite contractors and real estate
brokers: market leaders who provide high quality goods and services.
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\1\ The Pearl system provides homeowners, homebuyers, real estate
agents, appraisers, and underwriters with different and complementary
information that meets their need to understand and value the home's
features. New and existing homes can earn a Pearl certification, and
the home's record and Pearl score can be updated as further
improvements are made. The report that accompanies a Pearl
certification includes detailed information on ways that the home's
assets impact its comfort, indoor air quality, and energy consumption.
Contractors also use the scoring system as an educational tool to help
homeowners understand the benefits of high-performing equipment and
services.
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With paying customers in over twenty states, Pearl has scored over
65,000 homes to date. Pearl is the only market-based firm approved by
the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to
administer their Home Performance with ENERGY STAR(r) program for
existing homes, and was accepted into the 2017 National Association of
REALTORS(r) (NAR) prestigious REACH Technology Accelerator. Pearl's
current pilot partnership with NYSERDA positions Pearl's certification
system as a voluntary home labeling system which will help states and
municipalities meet carbon reduction goals.
Dollar for dollar, investments in energy efficiency create more
jobs than investment in the utility sector or fossil-fuels.\2\ As a
result, investments in DOE programs that support energy efficiency--
like those in the Building Technologies Office--lead to job creation
and economic growth. In fact, energy efficiency is the largest employer
and fastest growing sector in the energy industry. The 2020 ``Energy
Efficiency Jobs in America'' \3\ report from E4TheFuture found that,
prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy efficiency industry employed
nearly 2.4 million Americans and was adding more jobs than any other
energy sector. The industry was expected to see another 3% growth in
2020. Instead, over 18% of the energy efficiency workforce (430,000
workers) lost their jobs in the initial months of the pandemic. While
other sectors experienced robust recoveries in the second half of 2020,
energy efficiency did not: In December 2020, over half of energy
efficiency workers laid off in the spring (230,000) were still out of
work.
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\2\ ACEEE. N.d. Energy Efficiency and Economic Opportunity.
Retrieved from http://aceee.org/files/pdf/fact-sheet/ee-economic-
opportunity.pdf.
\3\ https://e4thefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/
EE_Jobs_America_2020.pdf.
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The residential buildings sector remains a largely untapped
resource for carbon reduction goals. Residential buildings account for
21% of total U.S. energy consumption,\4\ consume more electricity than
any other sector,\5\ and are the largest contributor to peak demand,\6\
all of which make this sector particularly important from a carbon
emissions reduction standpoint. In addition, the occupants of the vast
majority of homes in the U.S. experience comfort problems, health
issues, and/or high utility bills. The residential sector's energy
consumption can be significantly reduced, and other related problems
addressed, through single-measure and whole-house upgrades. Residential
energy efficiency jobs were hit particularly hard by the pandemic and
statewide lockdown orders. Supporting these jobs as part of our
nation's recovery will be critical.
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\4\ https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/pdf/mer.pdf.
\5\ https://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/html/epa_01_02.html.
\6\ https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/04/f61/bto-
geb_overview-4.15.19.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at DOE
has advanced innovative technology solutions and helped identify the
most effective means to increase buildings' energy efficiency in order
to reduce carbon emissions through research, development, field
validation, deployment, demonstration, consumer education, and
technical assistance activities. To ensure that these innovative energy
technologies, practices, and information can be fully utilized by
American consumers to reduce carbon emissions, Congress should support
coordination with the private sector and support demonstration and
deployment activities that integrate and bring these solutions to
market.
Residential energy efficiency programs at the Department of Energy
deserve the support of the American taxpayer as these programs are
proven to provide a significant return on investment. When funded they
will continue to provide energy cost relief to households, support
American-based industry and American jobs, ameliorate issues with the
aging electrical grid, and support national security goals. We also
urge additional funding either through regular appropriations or
supplemental funding in the event an energy/infrastructure package is
considered. In the event that opportunity presents itself, we would
urge funding for the HOPE for HOMES program to advance workforce
training and residential retrofit rebates supported by the President's
Budget Request ($2 billion in FY22).
We respectfully urge funding of $80M for the Residential Building
Integration program within the Building Technologies Office, which has
the capacity to fundamentally transform the performance of homes and
greatly improve the energy efficiency in the 115 million existing
residential buildings throughout this country. Residential buildings
account for 21% of total U.S. energy consumption, use more electricity
than any other sector, and are therefore an essential (albeit often
overlooked) part of the carbon reduction equation. RBI can
significantly improve the energy efficiency in the residential sector
through its partnerships with the thousands of small businesses in this
sector, the construction trades, equipment, smart grid technology and
systems suppliers, integrators and state and local governments.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, which advances contractor
engagement in high efficiency equipment installations, is just one
example of a crucial residential program within RBI. To date,
approximately 875,000 energy efficiency improvement projects have been
completed on existing homes through the Home Performance with ENERGY
STAR program. We recommend that this program receive a line item in the
budget for at least $80 million and that the funding be focused on
facilitating later-stage research, demonstration, and widespread
deployment of technology solutions in new and existing homes, with an
emphasis on whole-house energy efficiency retrofits (including
outreach, engagement and training to private sector contractors) and
continuing efforts to advance grid-interactive residential buildings
and smart home technology.
We encourage the direct engagement with residential contractors and
home certification businesses, which are crucial to the success of
buildings programs. We also urge continued efforts to address
visibility of high performing features in residential buildings as a
way to ensure that they are properly valued and to create market
incentives to drive additional improvements. RBI deserves the support
of the American taxpayer as it is proven to provide a significant
return on investment and provide economic, health, resiliency, and
carbon reduction benefits. Again, we respectfully urge Congress to fund
Residential Building Integration at no less than $80 million.
DOE's residential energy efficiency programs and initiatives are
critical to the continued advancement of the energy efficiency
industry, which contributes to the country's overall economic growth,
energy independence, and international competitiveness, and also
represents a significant and largely untapped resource for carbon
reduction. We once again urge Congress to support these programs with
robust funding for FY22 so they may continue their important work,
including continued efforts to address property rating and valuation in
buildings. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony. We look
forward to working with you.
[This statement was submitted by Robin LeBaron, Co-Founder,
President and COO, Pearl Certification.]
______
Prepared Statement of San Juan Water Commission
We are requesting your support for appropriations in the
President's recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of
Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River
Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery
Implementation Program. The budget items and amounts requested in the
President's budget for these programs are described below.
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmers Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the San
Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes:
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream
flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and
conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and
stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and
research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to
guide decision making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake
Powell.
I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Aaron Chavez, Executive Director,
San Juan Water Commission.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Society for Industrial and Applied
Mathematics
This written testimony is submitted on behalf of the Society for
Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) to ask you to continue your
support of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science with
funding of $7.7 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2022. In particular, we
urge you to provide at least $292 million for Mathematical,
Computational, and Computer Sciences Research in the Office of Advanced
Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) within the Office of Science. We
also emphasize the importance of support for graduate students through
the Computational Sciences Graduate Fellowship and request that $20
million be provided in FY 2022.
On behalf of SIAM, we submit this written testimony for the record
to the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Appropriations of
the United States Senate.
SIAM has approximately 14,000 members, including applied and
computational mathematicians, computer scientists, numerical analysts,
engineers, statisticians, and mathematics educators. They work in
industrial and service organizations, universities, colleges, and
government agencies and laboratories all over the world. In addition,
SIAM has over 500 institutional members-colleges, universities,
corporations, and research organizations. SIAM members come from many
different disciplines but have a common interest in applying
mathematics in partnership with computational science towards solving
real-world problems.
SIAM appreciates your Committee's leadership on and recognition of
the critical role of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science
and its support for mathematics, science, and engineering in enabling a
strong U.S. economy, workforce, and society. DOE was one of the first
federal agencies to champion computational science as one of the three
pillars of science, along with theory and experiment, and SIAM deeply
appreciates and values DOE activities.
SIAM is grateful for the strong funding that the Office of Science
received in FY 2021 and encouraged by the proposed increases in the
President's FY 2022 budget request. We join with the research community
to request that you continue this momentum by providing the Office of
Science with $7.7 billion for FY 2022. The requested amount is
necessary for ensuring continued support for areas such as mathematics
and scientific research to help address national priorities, foster
economic growth, and create jobs.
advanced scientific computing research
Activities within the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing
Research (ASCR) play a key role in supporting research that begins to
fulfill the needs described above. Within the overall amount for ASCR,
we urge you to provide at least $292 million for Mathematical,
Computational, and Computer Sciences Research in FY 2022. SIAM applauds
the proposed increases in the President's budget request as this level
of funding is needed to ensure the long-term health and viability of
the high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystem that DOE relies on for
conducting groundbreaking discovery science while supporting increased
investment in priority areas such as quantum computing and artificial
intelligence.
Core research activities within ASCR enable the development of
critical tools for computational science, modeling, and data analysis
that enhance advanced computing capabilities and seed new areas of
research with potential for revolutionary advancements. Sustained
investment in basic research ultimately enabled the global leadership
in HPC that the U.S. currently enjoys. While our strength in HPC is
exemplified by the groundbreaking exascale systems currently being
assembled, this position is increasingly being challenged by overseas
competitors.
We strongly support ASCR's reorientation toward longer term
research as the Exascale Computing Initiative comes to fruition and
funding for the associated Exascale Computing Project continues its
planned decline. This shift is underpinned by strategic visioning
exercises that have produced several recommendations for reinvigorating
ASCR's research agenda. These include a substantial reinvestment in
foundational science and increased support for high-risk/high-reward
research activities, especially at universities.\1\ Such an approach
will help maintain the long-term viability and vibrancy of the broader
HPC research community as ASCR looks toward the post-exascale future.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Advanced Scientific Computing Advisory Committee (ASCAC),
Subcommittee on Exascale Transition, ``Transition Report'', https://
science.osti.gov/-/media/ascr/ascac/pdf/meetings/202004/
Transition_Report_202004-
ASCAC.pdf?la=en&hash=5164916FE5158EE8919C26804B4CF7F6
DDA36E9D.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the critical role that it already plays in priority
areas like artificial intelligence and quantum information science,
ASCR's research portfolio will be a critical asset to the Department's
efforts to drive innovation in climate and Earth systems predictability
and renewable energy. Specifically, research in applied mathematics and
computational science will enable new capabilities in environmental
sensing and edge computing with applications in Earth systems
prediction and climate forecasting. In addition, advancements in
modeling, simulation, and optimization can help improve grid
reliability and the integration of renewable energy sources into the
broader power distribution system.
supporting the pipeline of mathematicians and scientists
SIAM is grateful for the strong support of the Computational
Sciences Graduate Fellowships (CSGF) and requests that $20 million be
provided for the Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF) in FY
2022 within the overall amount for research. Researchers trained in
computational science and working in universities, national
laboratories, and industry are essential to propel advances in many DOE
critical research areas. This program helps ensure the existence of an
adequate supply of scientists and engineers with strong computational
research experience and close ongoing ties to DOE to meet future
national workforce needs.
CSGF has been flat-funded at $10 million since FY 2015, even as
computational techniques continue to permeate every area of science and
increasingly contribute to the advancement of DOE mission priorities.
SIAM is pleased to see support for CSGF within the President's FY 2022
budget request to increase the number of fellows in AI and Quantum and
participation of individuals from under-represented groups. The
increase we are requesting to CSGF reflects the growing need for an
expanded workforce in emerging areas of importance to DOE such as
artificial intelligence and data science. As international competition
in science and engineering intensifies, maintaining U.S. leadership in
these areas will increasingly depend on our ability to cultivate a
scientific workforce with strong research experience and close ties to
DOE. An increase in funding to CSGF would also enable ASCR to address a
consistent oversubscription in the program and advance diversity,
equity, and inclusion through expanded outreach to minority serving
institutions.
the role of mathematics in meeting health, energy, and security
challenges
Support for applied mathematics and computational science is
critical to sustaining the nation's global scientific and technological
leadership, energy production capabilities, and national security. By
exploiting DOE's world class supercomputing capabilities,
mathematicians and computational scientists supported by the
abovementioned programs pioneer new modeling and simulation techniques
that enable substantial breakthroughs in materials synthesis, energy
distribution, and human physiology among other complex areas where
laboratory experiments or field observations are too costly, time
consuming, or simply insufficient. This was demonstrated recently in
the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Researchers at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory (ORNL) developed a computational model of the novel
coronavirus. They then ran the model on ORNL's supercomputer, Summit,
and were able to identify 77 molecular compounds that could serve as
the basis for therapeutic drugs to counter COVID-19.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ https://chemrxiv.org/articles/
Repurposing_Therapeutics_for_the_Wuhan_
Coronavirus_nCov-2019_Supercomputer-Based_Docking_to_the_Viral_S--
Protein_and_
Human_ACE2_Interface/11871402/3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
conclusion
The programs in the Office of Science, particularly those discussed
above, are important elements of DOE's efforts to fulfill its mission.
They contribute to the goals of dramatically transforming our current
capabilities to develop new sources of energy and improve energy
efficiency to ensure energy independence and facilitate DOE's effort to
increase U.S. competitiveness by training and attracting the best
scientific talent into DOE headquarters and laboratories, the American
research enterprise, and the clean energy economy.
Thank you again for your ongoing support of the DOE Office of
Science. The DOE Office of Science needs sustained annual funding to
maintain our competitive edge in science and technology, and therefore
we respectfully ask that you continue your support of these critical
programs. We appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony to the
Committee on behalf of SIAM and look forward to providing any
additional information or assistance you may ask of us during the FY
2022 appropriations process.
[This statement was submitted by Dr. Susanne C. Brenner, President;
Dr. Anne Gelb, Vice President for Science Policy; and Dr. Suzanne L.
Weekes, Executive
Director, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe
Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Subcommittee
members:
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe requests your support for
appropriations in the President's budget request for FY 2022 to the
Bureau of Reclamation--Upper Colorado Region for the San Juan River
Basin Recovery Implementation Program and the Upper Colorado River
Endangered Fish Recovery Program (``Recovery Programs'').
The importance of the Recovery Programs cannot be overstated.
Westerners' water supply relies on water projects that store, channel,
and pump water where it is needed. These Recovery Programs were
established to recover endangered fish species while simultaneously
allowing water use and development to proceed in compliance with the
Endangered Species Act. The Recovery Programs provide Endangered
Species Act compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the
Upper Colorado River Basin, including every Reclamation project
upstream of Lake Powell. That includes projects such as the Animas La
Plata Project in southwest Colorado, where tribes are partners with
Reclamation. The San Juan Program in particular was critical to the
settlement of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe's water rights and is
fundamental to future tribal water development.
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget
for these programs are described below.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
include:
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream
flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and conserve
genetic integrity through hatcheries and stocking efforts,
manage non-native and sport fish, and research and monitoring
to provide the scientific basis to guide decision making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities needed
to recover endangered fish species. This includes $2,500,000 for
construction of a fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion
structure on the San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for
floodplain habitat development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan
River, $2,550,000 for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at
the Grand Valley Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River
near Grand Junction Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program
Management for contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract
administration, tracking expenditures, and addressing issues and
concerns associated with capital project construction.
These programs have been highly successful in achieving their
purpose. For example, two of the fish species that the programs were
designed to recover--the Razorback Sucker and the Humpback Chub--are in
the process of being downlisted from ``endangered'' to ``threatened.''
The programs are a success not just on the biological front. They are
also a positive example of the value of cooperation. The partners in
these programs include four federally recognized Indian tribes (the
Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Jicarilla Apache
Nation, and Navajo Nation); four states (New Mexico, Colorado, Utah,
and Wyoming), multiple federal agencies, including the Fish and
Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; water and power
interests; and environmental groups. The partners have pooled
resources--including funding, in-kind donations, and staff--to ensure
the success of these Programs.
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe appreciates the Subcommittee's past
support and requests the Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022
funding to ensure the Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial
participation in and provision of federal cost sharing for these
vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Melvin J. Baker, Chairman,
Southern Ute
Indian Tribe.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Southwestern Water Conservation District
The Southwestern Water Conservation District (SWCD) appreciates the
opportunity to submit this letter of support for appropriations in the
President's recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of
Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River
Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery
Implementation Program. SWCD is a political subdivision of the State
that was established by the Colorado General Assembly in 1941 to
protect, conserve, use and develop the water resources of the San Juan
and Dolores River Basins as well as to safeguard all waters to which
the state of Colorado is equitably entitled.
We are requesting your support for appropriations in the
President's budget for these programs described below.
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes $8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream flows,
maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and conservation of genetic
integrity through hatcheries and stocking efforts, manage non-native
and sport fish, and research and monitoring to provide the scientific
basis to guide decision making. This funding for the recovery programs
is authorized by P.L. 106-392, as amended.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake
Powell. Because these objectives align with our statutory mandate, SWCD
has been a steadfast supporter of the Upper Colorado and San Juan
Recovery Programs since their inception in 1988 and 1992, respectively.
I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Steve Wolff, General Manager,
Southwestern Water Conservation District.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Tri-County Water Conservancy District
The Tri-County Water Conservancy District is requesting your
support for appropriations in the President's recommended budget for FY
2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region for the Upper
Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River
Basin Recovery Implementation Program. The budget items and amounts
requested in the President's budget for these programs are described
below.
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream
flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and
conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and
stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and
research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to
guide decision making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake
Powell.
We appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Mike Berry, General Manager, Tri-
County Water Conservancy District.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish
Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation
Program
I am requesting your support for appropriations in the President's
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper
Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery
Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program.
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget for
these programs are described below.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake
Powell.
Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with
capital project construction.
Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that
includes:
--$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream
flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and
conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and
stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and
research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to
guide decision making.
--$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for
scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon
Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding
of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory
requirements, and experimental flow research.
--$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide
data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow
and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of
water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Mike King, Chief External Affairs
Officer.]
______
Prepared Statement of the WateReuse Association
Thank you for providing the opportunity to submit written testimony
on Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations. I write today on behalf of the
WateReuse Association and its members to highlight the importance of
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's (USBR) Title XVI-WIIN Water
Reclamation and Reuse Competitive Grants Program. The Title XVI-WIIN
program has helped communities across the West build drought
resilience, keep nutrients and other pollutants out of sensitive
waterways, save billions of dollars relative to importing water, and
grow sustainable economies. It is a key economic and climate resiliency
tool, but is hamstrung by insufficient funding.
Given the critical role that water recycling plays in water
resources management and the overwhelming demand for projects as
authorized in section 4009(c) of Public Law 114-322, we urge you to
include at least $100 million for this program in Energy and Water
Development appropriations legislation for FY 2022.
The WateReuse Association is a not-for-profit trade association for
water utilities, businesses, industrial and commercial enterprises,
non-profit organizations, and research entities that engage in and on
water recycling. WateReuse and its state and regional sections
represent more than 200 water utilities serving over 60 million
customers, and over 300 businesses and organizations across the
country. Our mission is to engage our members in a movement for safe
and sustainable water supplies, to promote acceptance and support of
recycled water, and to advocate for policies and funding that increase
water reuse.
The USBR's Title XVI program is the only federal program with water
reuse as its sole focus. Since Title XVI's inception in 1992, Congress
has authorized 53 Title XVI recycling projects producing more than
400,000 acre-feet of drought-resistant water supply. To date, Congress
has appropriated over $700 million in federal funding, which has been
leveraged with non-federal funding to implement more than $3.3 billion
in water reuse improvements--a nearly 5:1 leverage ratio.
In 2016, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation
(WIIN) Act established a mechanism, colloquially known as Title XVI-
WIIN, to enable new projects to apply for competitive grants within
Title XVI. Due to the popularity of Title XVI-WIIN in its first few
years, the program now has a large and growing backlog exceeding $700
million in federal cost share for eligible projects, and demand is
expected to grow as more projects become eligible.
Water projects funded through the Title XVI program have been used
to increase the supply of fresh drinking water, generate sustainable
irrigation water for landscaping and agricultural use, restore
sensitive ecosystems, and help industries expand and create jobs, among
other purposes. The program is not limited to the reuse of municipal
wastewater--it also helps communities identify beneficial uses for
industrial, agricultural, and domestic wastewater, as well as impaired
ground and surface water. Investments through the Title XVI competitive
grants program have helped both urban and rural communities across the
West build a strong and secure economic future.
A recent GAO report (GAO-19-110) highlighted a number of
illustrative Title XVI projects. For example, program investments
helped one drought-stricken water district in California develop
infrastructure to use more than 2 billion gallons of recycled water to
irrigate sports fields, golf courses, parks, school grounds, and
medians. Another project is providing drought-resistant recycled water
to farmers to irrigate 45,000 acres of farmland, reducing demand on the
area's over-drafted groundwater basin. Other Title XVI projects have
been used to prevent saltwater intrusion into aquifers, restore
marshes, wetlands, and other habitat, and create potable drinking
water.
In addition to increasing funding for the Title XVI-WIIN program,
we ask for your support in securing robust funding for USBR's
Desalination and Water Purification Program in FY 2022. The
Desalination Program invests in projects in Reclamation states that
involve ocean or brackish water desalination. In the arid West,
desalination is an important tool that can help communities increase
their water supply.
Thank you for considering our requests and please do not hesitate
to reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Greg Fogel, Policy Director,
WateReuse
Association.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Western Governors' Association
Chair Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Members of the
Subcommittee, the Western Governors' Association (WGA) appreciates the
opportunity to provide written testimony on the appropriations and
activities of the federal agencies under the Subcommittee's
jurisdiction, including the Department of Energy (DOE), Bureau of
Reclamation (BOR), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). WGA is an
independent organization representing the Governors of the 22
westernmost states and territories. The Association is an instrument of
the Governors for bipartisan policy development, information-sharing
and collective action on issues of critical importance to the western
United States.
The agencies within the Subcommittee's jurisdiction wield
significant influence over the American West and the development of
energy and water resources in the region. Western Governors recognize
the importance of a close and productive working relationship between
states and the federal government and understand that more effective
intergovernmental cooperation depends on federal recognition of states
as co-sovereigns and partners. The promotion of a greater partnership
between states and the federal government is central to the mission of
WGA and is reflected in WGA Policy Resolution 2021-01, Strengthening
the State-Federal Relationship.
States possess the primary legal authority for the allocation,
management, protection and development of water resources within their
borders. Congress and the federal judiciary have consistently and
expressly recognized, and deferred to, this state authority. Federal
policy must respect and preserve state authority to manage water, as
well as recognize state law and the financial, environmental and social
values of water resources to citizens of the western states.
The following recommendations are intended to ensure that taxpayers
realize a meaningful return on the investment of limited discretionary
resources. This goal will be more readily achieved to the extent that
federal agencies effectively leverage state authority, resources and
expertise.
State Authority Over Groundwater: States have exclusive authority
over groundwater within their borders and are primarily responsible for
protecting, managing, and otherwise controlling the resource. WGA
encourages the Subcommittee to prohibit the use of appropriated funds
for any activity that would, or has the potential to, usurp state
authority over groundwater resources. Federal agencies must work with
the states to address any groundwater-related needs and concerns. The
federal government has long recognized the right to use water as
determined under the laws of the various states; Western Governors
value their partnerships with federal agencies as they operate under
this established legal framework.
Water Data: Western states need reliable information on the status,
trends and projections of water availability. Accordingly, Western
Governors support funding for improved predictive and adaptive
capabilities for extreme weather variability and related effects,
including improvements to sub-seasonal and seasonal precipitation and
water supply forecasting. Forecasting improvements will better support
water management decision-making and emergency preparedness. Data
collection, monitoring and communications is most effective when
coordinated across federal agencies and with state agencies.
Water Infrastructure: The need for new water projects, as well as
for improvements to aging water, wastewater and hydropower facilities,
is becoming increasingly urgent. Infrastructure investments are
essential to our nation's continued economic prosperity, electric
generation capacity and environmental protection, and they assist
states in meeting federally mandated environmental standards. The
Subcommittee should continue to fully use receipts accruing to the
Reclamation Fund for their intended purpose: the conservation,
development and use of resources to meet western water-related needs.
Western Governors support the construction of congressionally
authorized BOR rural water projects and facilities that are part of
congressionally authorized Indian water rights settlements.
The Subcommittee can promote greater investment in water
infrastructure by using such tools as loan guarantees, revolving funds,
infrastructure banks, water trust funds, and the Water Infrastructure
Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. Western Governors urge that
capital budgeting and asset management principles be used to determine
funding priorities based on long-term sustainability and not annual
incremental spending choices. Federal investments in infrastruture need
to be supported by dedicated sources of funding and guided by
appropriate financing, cost-sharing, pricing and cost recovery
policies.
Aquatic Invasive Species: The spread of invasive quagga and zebra
mussels continues to be a major threat to western water resources. The
containment of these invaders at infested waters in the West depends
upon the collaboration and cooperation of federal, state and local
agencies. Many state-led containment programs benefit from federal
cooperation and funding. Western Governors request that the
Subcommittee provide BOR with the necessary funding to collaborate with
western states to contain the spread of aquatic invasive species in
western waters.
Waste Isolation Pilot Project: Continued funding for DOE's Waste
Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Transportation Safety Program is essential
to the expeditious cleanup and disposal of transuranic (TRU) waste from
U.S. nuclear weapons complex facilities in western states, including
Idaho National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory in New
Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, and the
Hanford Site in Washington. DOE must continue to provide sufficient and
timely in-kind, financial, technical and other appropriate assistance
to states and tribes through whose jurisdiction TRU waste will be
transported. This assistance is integral to planning, developing and
implementing the WIPP Transportation Safety Program. The safe and
uneventful transportation of TRU waste is a priority of Western
Governors, and WGA encourages the Subcommittee to provide adequate
funding to ensure that the important work of the WIPP Transportation
Safety Program continues.
Energy: Western Governors support federal programs designed to:
reduce reliance on oil imports by increasing North American production
and improving fuel efficiency; develop renewable and alternative fuels;
and increase innovation and application of energy storage. Congress
should also: ensure adequate funding and resources for state emergency
planning, response, and recovery; maintain funding for the State Energy
Program (SEP), Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), Weatherization
Assistance Program (WAP), and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP); and provide appropriations for effective cybersecurity
infrastructure, education, and workforce development programs. Congress
should also refrain from advancing the interim storage of commercial
nuclear waste through the appropriations process without requiring the
consent of affected Governors. The Subcommittee can also help ensure
that DOE and other agencies create opportunities for ongoing,
substantive, and meaningful state consultation in the West-wide energy
corridor process.
Western Governors and federal agencies deal with a complex web of
interrelated energy and water resource issues. It is an enormous
challenge to judiciously balance competing needs in this environment,
and Western Governors appreciate the difficulty of the decisions this
Subcommittee must make. The foregoing recommendations are offered in a
spirit of cooperation and respect, and WGA is prepared to assist you as
the Subcommittee discharges its critical and challenging
responsibilities.
[This statement was submitted by James D. Ogsbury, Executive
Director, Western Governors' Association.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Western Resource Advocates
Dear Chairman Feinstein and Senator Kennedy:
We request your support for appropriations in the President's
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper
Colorado Region, to fund the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish
Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation
Program. The programs' goals are to recovery four species of endangered
fish and provide ESA compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects
in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, hydropower and
environmental interests. The conservation group Western Resource
Advocates (WRA) has been a partner in the program for nearly twenty
years.
WRA requests full funding for these programs, including $5.7
million in the FY22 budget request for capital construction activities
through the Upper Colorado Region's Endangered Species Recovery
Implementation Program. WRA also appreciates the Subcommittee's efforts
since FY19 to fund environmental programs for the Colorado River at
$21.4 million, a portion of which supports the Upper Colorado River
Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery
Implementation Program. WRA requests continued funding for these
activities, at that level or above, in FY22. This funding for the
recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-392, as amended.
Sincerely.
[This statement was submitted by Bart Miller, Healthy Rivers
Program Director, Western Resource Advocates.]
______
Prepared Statement of the Western States Water Council
Chair Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Members of the
Subcommittee, on behalf of the Western States Water Council (WSWC) we
welcome the opportunity to provide written testimony on federal agency
activities and appropriations under the Subcommittee's jurisdiction.
The WSWC is a government entity; an instrumentality of each and every
participating state advising western governors of water policies and
programs. Members are appointed and serve at the pleasure of their
respective governors. The WSWC appreciates the opportunity to provide
written testimony on activities and appropriations for the U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation (USBR).
reclamation fund
Recognizing the critical importance of water in the development of
the West, the Congress passed the Reclamation Act on June 17, 1902 and
provided monies ``reserved, set aside, and appropriated as a special
fund in the Treasury to be known as the 'reclamation fund,' to be used
in the examination and survey for and the construction and maintenance
of irrigation works for the storage, diversion, and development of
water for the reclamation of arid and semiarid land...'' in seventeen
western states, to be continually invested and reinvested.
The Council requests that the Subcommittee recommend fully
appropriating the receipts and collections accruing to the Reclamation
Fund, pursuant to the Reclamation Act and other acts, for their
intended purpose in the continuing conservation, development and wise
use of western resources to meet western water-related needs. ``Needs''
may include Reclamation project dam safety costs, financing
extraordinary maintenance and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure
(including transferred works), funding authorized rural water supply
projects, and the construction of Reclamation facilities incorporated
as part of a Congressionally approved Indian water right settlements.
We also support an investigation of converting the Reclamation Fund to
a true revolving trust fund.
The Reclamation Fund was envisioned as the principal means to
finance federal western water and power projects with revenues from
western resources. Its receipts are derived from water and power sales,
project repayments, certain receipts from public land sales, leases and
rentals in the seventeen western states, as well as certain oil and
mineral related royalties--but these receipts are only available for
expenditure pursuant to annual appropriation acts. With receipts
outpacing expenditures for authorized Reclamation purposes, the
unobligated figure gets larger and larger, while the money is spent
elsewhere for other federal purposes, contrary to the Congress'
original intent. The actual unobligated balance at the start of FY2020
was $17.668 billion, and was estimated to have been $17.689 billion at
the beginning of FY2021 and $17.794 billion at the beginning of FY2022.
rural water supply projects
The Council strongly supports funding to expedite construction of
long-authorized Reclamation rural water supply projects in a timely
manner, including projects that meet tribal trust and other federal
responsibilities, while recognizing and continuing to defer to the
primacy of western water laws and tribal settlements in allocating
water among users. There are six authorized and active rural water
projects located in Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and South
Dakota, of which five have yet to be completed at an estimated federal
cost of around $898 million. Construction costs continue to increase
due to delays, inflation and the rising costs of materials and labor.
At current levels of funding, completion of some projects could be
delayed by decades. There is a Federal responsibility to complete
authorized rural water projects, particularly those intended to fulfill
in part a solemn Federal promise and trust responsibility to compensate
States and Tribes for lost resources as a result of the construction of
federal flood control projects and other actions.
project maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation
The average age of Bureau of Reclamation dams is 70 years, with
most requiring maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation (MR&R) estimated
at $2.9 billion. We support federal investments and collaborative
efforts in water-related infrastructure projects and programs that
deliver adequate supplies of suitable quality water, and provide jobs
and economic security, while protecting the environment. We also
support dedicated federal water infrastructure funding. Reclamation
operates hundreds of dams, reservoirs, and related infrastructure in
the West, supplying water and power to millions of people, irrigating
millions of acres for food and fiber, providing flood control and
recreation, and supporting wildlife and habitat. The importance of
these projects cannot be overstated.
Many of Reclamation's facilities are nearing, or have already
exceeded, their original design lives and are in need of MR&R, in order
to minimize risk to public safety and continue to serve their
authorized purposes. MR&R needs refer to both maintenance that has been
deferred and future projections or anticipated maintenance, repair and
rehabilitation work. Reclamation's existing funding, and the funding
from non-federal partners, which operates two-thirds of Reclamation's
infrastructure under contract, are not sufficient to address all MR&R
needs. We support stable and continuous funding streams for
maintenance, rehabilitation and repair of Reclamation dams and related
infrastructure, as well as updated evaluations of priority needs
dam safety
The Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 provides Reclamation
with authority to preserve and maintain the structural safety of dams
under its stewardship. The WSWC supports ongoing coordination of state
and federal efforts to strengthen dam safety programs. We support
actions that provide stable and continuous federal funding streams for
Reclamation dam safety work and related infrastructure.
forecast informed reservoir operations
The WSWC supports the use of innovative and forecast informed
reservoir operations by Reclamation and other public and private
entities at all levels. This would help to maximize the effective and
efficient use of our existing and future infrastructure to benefit our
myriad and growing economic uses of water, while at the same time
balancing and protecting our need for public health and safety, as well
as a resilient and healthy environment.
openet
In the West, the predominant consumptive use of water is
evapotranspiration (ET) from irrigation. The WSWC supports a $5M
request under Reclamation's WaterSMART program for development of an
Open Evapotranspiration (OpenET) software system and data platform
through an operational use partnership (https://openetdata.org/).
OpenET involves scientists from federal agencies and academic
institutions using satellite and weather data to map evapotranspiration
at the individual field scale. With these funds, Reclamation would be
able to partner with the OpenET consortium and with a broad network of
collaborators to refine, develop applications, and operationalize the
use of OpenET, providing credible, transparent, automated, and easily
accessible consumptive water use data across the West. No such system
exists today. There is a need for developing new monitoring
technologies that provide more timely data availability and more
refined spatial coverage.
Currently, access to satellite and ET data is limited and
expensive, keeping it out of the hands of many water users and
decision-makers. OpenET will allow water managers to assess how much
water is being used via a cost-effective and easy-to-use web-based
platform, filling a critical water data management gap.
agrimet
We also support $1million in funding for Reclamation's Agrimet
network of weather stations that provide data that serves as an
important and efficient ground-truthing, calibration, and model
validation tool for analysis of information products derived from
satellite platforms such as OpenET. Agrimet provides basic data on
precipitation, temperature, solar radiance, wind speed and humidity
required to calculate reference ET and inform remote-sensing platforms.
The Agrimet weather observing network suffers from the challenges of
aging instrumentation infrastructure, deferred maintenance, need for
technology upgrades, and funding that fails to keep up with these
needs, making it difficult to maintain data continuity and coverage for
users.
drought
As the Subcommittee members are aware, much of the West is again in
the grip of severe to exceptional drought. We support Reclamation's
Drought Response Program, authorized under the Water Sustain and Manage
America's Resources for Tomorrow (WaterSMART) program and the Science
and Engineering to Comprehensively Understand and Responsibly Enhance
(SECURE) Water Act, and urge the Subcommittee to provide funding for a
comprehensive and coordinated national drought preparedness and
response program on par with federal efforts to address other natural
disasters.
hydropower
We support reasonable hydropower projects and programs that enhance
our electric generation capacity and promote economic development
through streamlined permitting processes, while appropriately
protecting environmental resources, consistent with States' law and
certification authority under the Clean Water Act Section 401.
energy and water planning
Finally, we support integrating water and energy program and
project planning, including improved data on water and energy supply
and demand, that promotes conservation and use efficiency while seeking
to minimize economic, environmental, and other costs.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony.