[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 101 (Monday, July 9, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H4666-H4670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HYDROPOWER REGULATORY EFFICIENCY ACT OF 2012

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 5892) to improve hydropower, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5892

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Hydropower 
     Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Promoting small hydroelectric power projects.
Sec. 4. Promoting conduit hydropower projects.

[[Page H4667]]

Sec. 5. FERC authority to extend preliminary permit periods.
Sec. 6. Promoting hydropower development at nonpowered dams and closed 
              loop pumped storage projects.
Sec. 7. DOE study of pumped storage and potential hydropower from 
              conduits.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the hydropower industry currently employs approximately 
     300,000 workers across the United States;
       (2) hydropower is the largest source of clean, renewable 
     electricity in the United States;
       (3) as of the date of enactment of this Act, hydropower 
     resources, including pumped storage facilities, provide--
       (A) nearly 7 percent of the electricity generated in the 
     United States; and
       (B) approximately 100,000 megawatts of electric capacity in 
     the United States;
       (4) only 3 percent of the 80,000 dams in the United States 
     generate electricity, so there is substantial potential for 
     adding hydropower generation to nonpowered dams; and
       (5) according to one study, by utilizing currently untapped 
     resources, the United States could add approximately 60,000 
     megawatts of new hydropower capacity by 2025, which could 
     create 700,000 new jobs over the next 13 years.

     SEC. 3. PROMOTING SMALL HYDROELECTRIC POWER PROJECTS.

       Subsection (d) of section 405 of the Public Utility 
     Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2705) is amended 
     by striking ``5,000'' and inserting ``10,000''.

     SEC. 4. PROMOTING CONDUIT HYDROPOWER PROJECTS.

       (a) Applicability of, and Exemption From, Licensing 
     Requirements.--Section 30 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
     823a) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(a)(1) A qualifying conduit hydropower facility shall not 
     be required to be licensed under this part.
       ``(2)(A) Any person, State, or municipality proposing to 
     construct a qualifying conduit hydropower facility shall file 
     with the Commission a notice of intent to construct such 
     facility. The notice shall include sufficient information to 
     demonstrate that the facility meets the qualifying criteria.
       ``(B) Not later than 15 days after receipt of a notice of 
     intent filed under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall--
       ``(i) make an initial determination as to whether the 
     facility meets the qualifying criteria; and
       ``(ii) if the Commission makes an initial determination, 
     pursuant to clause (i), that the facility meets the 
     qualifying criteria, publish public notice of the notice of 
     intent filed under subparagraph (A).
       ``(C) If, not later than 45 days after the date of 
     publication of the public notice described in subparagraph 
     (B)(ii)--
       ``(i) an entity contests whether the facility meets the 
     qualifying criteria, the Commission shall promptly issue a 
     written determination as to whether the facility meets such 
     criteria; or
       ``(ii) no entity contests whether the facility meets the 
     qualifying criteria, the facility shall be deemed to meet 
     such criteria.
       ``(3) For purposes of this section:
       ``(A) The term `conduit' means any tunnel, canal, pipeline, 
     aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance 
     that is operated for the distribution of water for 
     agricultural, municipal, or industrial consumption and not 
     primarily for the generation of electricity.
       ``(B) The term `qualifying conduit hydropower facility' 
     means a facility (not including any dam or other impoundment) 
     that is determined or deemed under paragraph (2)(C) to meet 
     the qualifying criteria.
       ``(C) The term `qualifying criteria' means, with respect to 
     a facility--
       ``(i) the facility is constructed, operated, or maintained 
     for the generation of electric power and uses for such 
     generation only the hydroelectric potential of a non-
     federally owned conduit;
       ``(ii) the facility has an installed capacity that does not 
     exceed 5 megawatts; and
       ``(iii) on or before the date of enactment of the 
     Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012, the facility is 
     not licensed under, or exempted from the license requirements 
     contained in, this part.
       ``(b) Subject to subsection (c), the Commission may grant 
     an exemption in whole or in part from the requirements of 
     this part, including any license requirements contained in 
     this part, to any facility (not including any dam or other 
     impoundment) constructed, operated, or maintained for the 
     generation of electric power which the Commission determines, 
     by rule or order--
       ``(1) utilizes for such generation only the hydroelectric 
     potential of a conduit; and
       ``(2) has an installed capacity that does not exceed 40 
     megawatts.''.
       (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``subsection (a)'' and 
     inserting ``subsection (b)''; and
       (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``subsection (a)'' and 
     inserting ``subsection (b)''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (d) of section 405 of 
     the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
     2705), as amended, is further amended by striking 
     ``subsection (a) of such section 30'' and inserting 
     ``subsection (b) of such section 30''.

     SEC. 5. FERC AUTHORITY TO EXTEND PRELIMINARY PERMIT PERIODS.

       Section 5 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 798) is 
     amended--
       (1) by designating the first, second, and third sentences 
     as subsections (a), (c), and (d), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (a) (as so designated) 
     the following:
       ``(b) The Commission may extend the period of a preliminary 
     permit once for not more than 2 additional years beyond the 3 
     years permitted by subsection (a) if the Commission finds 
     that the permittee has carried out activities under such 
     permit in good faith and with reasonable diligence.''.

     SEC. 6. PROMOTING HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT AT NONPOWERED DAMS 
                   AND CLOSED LOOP PUMPED STORAGE PROJECTS.

       (a) In General.--To improve the regulatory process and 
     reduce delays and costs for hydropower development at 
     nonpowered dams and closed loop pumped storage projects, the 
     Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (referred to in this 
     section as the ``Commission'') shall investigate the 
     feasibility of the issuance of a license for hydropower 
     development at nonpowered dams and closed loop pumped storage 
     projects in a 2-year period (referred to in this section as a 
     ``2-year process''). Such a 2-year process shall include any 
     prefiling licensing process of the Commission.
       (b) Workshops and Pilots.--The Commission shall--
       (1) not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, hold an initial workshop to solicit public comment 
     and recommendations on how to implement a 2-year process;
       (2) develop criteria for identifying projects featuring 
     hydropower development at nonpowered dams and closed loop 
     pumped storage projects that may be appropriate for licensing 
     within a 2-year process;
       (3) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, develop and implement pilot projects to test a 2-
     year process, if practicable; and
       (4) not later than 3 years after the date of implementation 
     of the final pilot project testing a 2-year process, hold a 
     final workshop to solicit public comment on the effectiveness 
     of each tested 2-year process.
       (c) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Commission shall, to 
     the extent practicable, enter into a memorandum of 
     understanding with any applicable Federal or State agency to 
     implement a pilot project described in subsection (b).
       (d) Reports.--
       (1) Pilot projects not implemented.--If the Commission 
     determines that no pilot project described in subsection (b) 
     is practicable because no 2-year process is practicable, not 
     later than 240 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
     Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that--
       (A) describes the public comments received as part of the 
     initial workshop held under subsection (b)(1); and
       (B) identifies the process, legal, environmental, economic, 
     and other issues that justify the determination of the 
     Commission that no 2-year process is practicable, with 
     recommendations on how Congress may address or remedy the 
     identified issues.
       (2) Pilot projects implemented.--If the Commission develops 
     and implements pilot projects involving a 2-year process, not 
     later than 60 days after the date of completion of the final 
     workshop held under subsection (b)(4), the Commission shall 
     submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources of the Senate a report that--
       (A) describes the outcomes of the pilot projects;
       (B) describes the public comments from the final workshop 
     on the effectiveness of each tested 2-year process; and
       (C)(i) outlines how the Commission will adopt policies 
     under existing law (including regulations) that result in a 
     2-year process for appropriate projects;
       (ii) outlines how the Commission will issue new regulations 
     to adopt a 2-year process for appropriate projects; or
       (iii) identifies the process, legal, environmental, 
     economic, and other issues that justify a determination of 
     the Commission that no 2-year process is practicable, with 
     recommendations on how Congress may address or remedy the 
     identified issues.

     SEC. 7. DOE STUDY OF PUMPED STORAGE AND POTENTIAL HYDROPOWER 
                   FROM CONDUITS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall conduct a 
     study--
       (1)(A) of the technical flexibility that existing pumped 
     storage facilities can provide to support intermittent 
     renewable electric energy generation, including the potential 
     for such existing facilities to be upgraded or retrofitted 
     with advanced commercially available technology; and
       (B) of the technical potential of existing pumped storage 
     facilities and new advanced pumped storage facilities, to 
     provide grid reliability benefits; and
       (2)(A) to identify the range of opportunities for 
     hydropower that may be obtained from conduits (as defined by 
     the Secretary) in the United States; and
       (B) through case studies, to assess amounts of potential 
     energy generation from such conduit hydropower projects.

[[Page H4668]]

       (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit 
     to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources of the Senate a report that describes the results 
     of the study conducted under subsection (a), including any 
     recommendations.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Mrs. McMorris Rodgers) and the gentlewoman from Colorado 
(Ms. DeGette) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5892.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5892, the 
Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012, which I introduced, along 
with my good friend from Colorado, Representative Diana DeGette.
  To see the potential and the benefits of hydropower, all we have to 
do is look at my home State of Washington, which gets over 75 percent 
of its power from clean, reliable hydropower and has some of the 
Nation's lowest electricity rates.
  The Columbia and Snake River dams in eastern Washington, through 
irrigation, transformed a dry, barren desert with sagebrush to one of 
the most productive agriculture regions in the world. The low cost of 
hydropower brought high-tech companies like Google and Yahoo to 
relocate their servers there. Manufacturing facilities like BMW have 
now opened plants in Moses Lake, and the significant transportation 
benefits hydropower infrastructure provides to our Nation's barging are 
all as a result of hydropower.
  Yet, notwithstanding all of these benefits, the regulatory approval 
process for hydropower development, especially for smaller projects, 
can be unnecessarily slow, costly, and cumbersome. That's why I 
authored, and I urge my colleagues to support, H.R. 5892, which reforms 
and streamlines the hydropower permitting and regulatory process for 
small hydropower and conduit projects, reducing the burdens impeding 
development and getting low-cost electricity to communities faster.
  Mr. Speaker, few would disagree that we as a Nation need to become 
more energy independent. Along with Members on both sides of the aisle, 
I support an all-of-the-above energy strategy. The Department of Energy 
has also a goal of doubling the amount of hydropower produced in the 
United States, which a recent National Hydropower Association study 
revealed could be accomplished without building a single new dam by 
simply investing in new technologies and turbines. Mr. Speaker, the 
benefits and the overwhelming potential is why I urge the President to 
include hydropower in his all-of-the-above energy strategy.
  As part of an all-of-the-above strategy, we need to domestically 
produce more oil, coal, natural gas, and renewable energies like 
hydropower. According to the Energy Information Administration, 
currently 75 percent of all renewable energy produced in the United 
States is hydropower. However, that only accounts for 7 percent of the 
total electricity nationwide, and we've hardly scratched the surface of 
hydropower's potential. By utilizing currently untapped resources, the 
United States could add approximately 60,000 megawatts of new 
hydropower by 2025.
  Furthermore, with job growth still at a sluggish pace and far too 
many Americans out of work, we should be looking at every opportunity 
to put Americans back to work. Increased hydropower development will do 
just that, with the potential to create up to 700,000 jobs over the 
next decade. Unleashing American ingenuity to increase hydropower 
production will lower energy costs and help create thousands of jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support American energy and 
support H.R. 5892.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                                     May 29, 2012.
     Hon. Barack Obama,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: As we continue to advance policies that 
     will reduce America's dependency on foreign energy under the 
     ``all-of-the-above'' mantra, I respectfully urge you to 
     consider our nation's largest, cleanest, and most inexpensive 
     renewable energy source--hydroelectric power.
       According to your Department of Energy, approximately only 
     seven percent of our nation's total electricity and nearly 
     seventy-five percent of all renewable energy comes from 
     hydropower. Hydropower's undeveloped potential is nearly 
     exponential. Currently, only three percent of the 84,000 dams 
     in the United States produce hydropower and hydropower 
     production could double without building a single new dam. 
     Not to mention the commonsense regulatory reforms that can be 
     made to reduce the regulatory burden constraining hydropower 
     production. The first and foremost beneficiary of increasing 
     the development of this clean renewable energy source will be 
     consumers with lower utility bills.
       While I applaud your decision to embrace an ``all-of-the-
     above'' energy approach, I am disappointed your ``all-of-the-
     above'' approach does not include hydropower. According to 
     your campaign website, the United States' leading renewable 
     energy source does not play a role in our nation's energy 
     future. With the potential and benefits of hydropower in 
     mind, I respectfully urge you to reevaluate and include 
     hydropower in your ``all-of-the-above'' approach to energy 
     independence.
           Sincerely,
     Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
                                  ____



                              National Hydropower Association,

                                     Washington, DC, July 9, 2012.
     Hon. Cathy McMorris Rodgers,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Diana DeGette,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative McMorris Rodgers and Representative 
     DeGetter: On behalf of the National Hydropower Association 
     (NHA) I want to extend our appreciation for your leadership 
     on hydropower issues and recognize your tremendous work on 
     H.R. 5892, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012.
       NHA fully supports the legislation, which provides common-
     sense improvements to the development process for small 
     hydropower and conduit projects while also seeking solutions 
     to unlock new generation at existing non-powered dam 
     infrastructure and closed-loop pumped storage facilities.
       Hydropower is an integral part of America's energy 
     portfolio. The adoption of smart, targeted policies, such as 
     H.R. 5892, allows our nation to tap new hydropower resources 
     to meet future energy needs.
       Once again, we commend your work to increase affordable, 
     reliable, and renewable hydropower deployment and for 
     crafting a bill that has garnered broad bipartisan support as 
     well as the endorsement of both the industry and the 
     environmental community.
           Sincerely,
                                              Linda Church Ciocci,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____



                                                   Hydrovolts,

                                                    June 19, 2012.
     Hon. Cathy McMorris Rogers,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative McMorris Rodgers: We are writing to 
     express our support for H.R. 5892, the ``Hydropower 
     Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012.''
       Hydrovolts, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is a 
     manufacturer of portable hydropower turbines that harvest 
     hydrokinetic energy from water channels. Primarily working 
     with irrigation districts, water treatment plants and other 
     water system operators who can purchase multiple turbines, we 
     are working to help revolutionize renewable in-stream 
     hydropower generation and make it cost-effective for the USA 
     and for an untapped global export market. Deployed in the 
     huge water supply canals that now cross the continents, these 
     turbines have no environmental impact and can be mass-
     produced like cars, creating good manufacturing jobs. 
     Hydrovolts' ingenious design and business plan have won 
     awards from cleantech venture contests and investments from 
     individuals and corporations. Please see the online video 
     about Hydrovolts at www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbh6K5LVrj0.
       By taking advantage of the regulatory scheme created in 
     H.R. 5892 that allows for the rapid deployment of small 
     hydropower technology, Hydrovolts will be able to affordably 
     harness the hydrokinetic energy flowing through thousands of 
     miles of canals. Hydrovolts has already built and installed 
     turbines that are scalable, portable, low cost and easy to 
     install. They will create clean energy that is accessible and 
     affordable in potentially millions of sites.

[[Page H4669]]

       H.R. 5892 will directly and dramatically help our company 
     grow and succeed, by removing regulatory barriers that are 
     unreasonably imposed on this untapped hydropower resource. We 
     will get many more customers and hire more people because of 
     this legislation. It will help launch an entirely new clean 
     energy source for America--canal power--as well as removing a 
     major regulatory barrier to many existing proposed hydropower 
     projects. This is an example of pursing an ``all of the 
     above'' energy security objective from a new perspective of 
     distributed hydropower that supports manufacturing and 
     agriculture. Above all, Hydrovolts supports this legislation 
     because it is an important step towards the goal of expanding 
     hydropower production.
       Founded in April of 2007, Hydrovolts has proven that it is 
     a strong small business with large potential. To date, our 
     most notable achievements are:
       Performance design and function validated at University of 
     Washington, USGS lab, US Navy
       Successful demonstration project in Washington's Roza 
     Irrigation District
       Signed first-ever licensing agreement for demonstration in 
     Federal canals with USBR
       Winner of three national contests for cleantech business 
     plans
       Raised $3 million from private investors and grown to 14 
     employees, without receiving any government subsidies or 
     grants.
       On June 19th, we met with Shaughnessy Murphy on your staff 
     to discuss this important legislation and we look forward to 
     continue working with you on this important legislation. The 
     leadership you have demonstrated on the issue of renewable 
     energy is appreciated. If there are opportunities for 
     entrepreneurs to testify to Congress in support of H.R. 5892, 
     we will be happy to come to Washington DC to speak up. Please 
     don't hesitate to reach out for this.
       Should you have any additional questions or wish to reach 
     me, please feel free to contact me at 206.658-4380 or 
     [email protected].
           Sincerely,
                                                      Burt Hamner,
     CEO, Hydrovolts, Inc.
                                  ____

                                     Public Utility District No. 1


                                             of Chelan County,

                                      Wenatchee, WA, July 5, 2012.
     Hon. Cathy McMorris Rodgers,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative McMorris Rodgers: On behalf of Chelan 
     County PUD, I would like to thank you for sponsoring H.R. 
     5892, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012. Your 
     leadership in recognizing the importance of hydropower's 
     renewable character and economic contributions is very much 
     appreciated. As a large hydropower generator in north central 
     Washington State, Chelan PUD and our customers benefit 
     significantly from this clean source of electric generation. 
     We believe hydropower is a critical and under-appreciated 
     resource in our nation's electric generation mix.
       We are encouraged that H.R. 5892 will help facilitate 
     hydropower development by addressing regulatory barriers for 
     small hydropower and conduit hydropower, projects at non-
     powered dams, and closed loop pumped storage. These efforts 
     are an important step in increasing generation from renewable 
     hydropower and better-utilizing existing infrastructure. We 
     also agree that studying the potential for pumped storage to 
     support integration of intermittent renewable generation will 
     be helpful as the Northwest and other regions work to 
     integrate increasing amounts of wind into the electric grid.
       Overall, we are hopeful that your legislative efforts will 
     bring needed recognition and appreciation for the 
     contributions of hydropower to our nation's electric 
     generation mix. We thank you for your hard work and 
     dedication to this issue.
           Sincerely,
                                                      John Janney,
     General Manager.
                                  ____

         Grant County, Public Utility District, Excellence in 
           Service and Leadership,
                                Ephrata, Washington, July 5, 2012.
     Hon. Cathy McMorris Rodgers,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers: Grant County Public 
     Utility District (Grant PUD) applauds your extraordinary 
     leadership in Congress to increase our nation's renewable 
     hydropower capacity and expand American jobs and economic 
     opportunities throughout the United States.
       Grant PUD strongly supports your bi-partisan legislation--
     H.R. 5892, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012. 
     We are pleased that this bi-partisan bill, introduced by 
     yourself and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), is scheduled for 
     passage by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 9, 2012. 
     Grant PUD believes it will foster significant growth of 
     sustainable hydropower development that will strengthen our 
     domestic economy, environment and renewable energy supplies.
       We also commend the many additional co-sponsors of this 
     legislation, which include:
       Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)
       Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO)
       Rep. Robert Latta (R-OH)
       Rep. Ben Lujan (D-NM)
       Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA)
       Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT)
       Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA)
       Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX)
       Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)
       Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR)
       Hydropower is a reliable, available, affordable and 
     renewable energy resource. H.R. 5892 reminds us that 
     hydropower has much more to offer and must play a key role in 
     any ``all-of-the-above'' energy strategy. Think about this 
     one statistic: Of the 80,000 dams across the United States, 
     just three percent (3%) are utilized to generate 
     hydroelectricity. Just three percent! This legislation puts 
     America on a path to tap this available infrastructure, 
     support our environment and employ hundreds of thousands of 
     American workers.
       According to the Department of Energy, 12,000 megawatts 
     (MW) of new hydropower capacity could be developed at 
     existing dams that currently do not generate electricity. 
     This would increase U.S. hydropower capacity by 15 percent 
     without building any new dams. That is enough energy to serve 
     4.5 million residential customers.
       Grant PUD strongly supports the Hydropower Regulatory 
     Efficiency Act of 2012, which also enjoys broad public 
     support from American Rivers to the National Hydropower 
     Association.
       We appreciate your leadership on national energy issues and 
     stand ready to assist you and the bill's numerous co-sponsors 
     in promoting hydropower as a reliable, available, affordable 
     and sustainable source of renewable electricity that will 
     protect our environment and expand American job 
     opportunities.
       Sincerely,
     Andrew D. Munro,
       Grant PUD--Director, Customer Service Division, and Past 
     President, National Hydropower Association.

  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I'm proud to stand here today with my Western colleague, Mrs. 
McMorris Rodgers, to speak in support of the Hydropower Regulatory 
Efficiency Act, H.R. 5892. Both of us realize how important hydropower 
is towards our country and towards energy independence. It's the 
largest source of renewable energy in America today, but, as Mrs. 
McMorris Rodgers said, it's only 3 percent of our Nation's dams that 
are producing this power.
  The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act will enable increased 
electricity production from clean domestic energy sources by removing 
roadblocks to new hydropower projects. This legislation will create 
smarter and more efficient permitting processes for hydropower projects 
across the Nation by easing the licensing requirements for small 
hydroelectric projects.
  In particular, the bill will allow the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission to extend preliminary permits for those projects that had 
been conducted responsibly and to expand the number of hydropower 
projects that are exempt from FERC licensing requirements. The bill 
also directs FERC and the Secretary of Energy to perform studies that 
will reveal new potential for hydropower production and to increase 
grid reliability. This legislation will promote growth in our 
hydropower industry and it will create new jobs.
  Since my colleague, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, and I began crafting this 
bill in December of last year, it has advanced with strong bipartisan 
support every step of the way. This is a testament both to the 
substance of the bill and to the spirit of everybody who contributed to 
the process. Members, staff, and stakeholders negotiated constructively 
and openly to produce this legislation. It's important for us to 
realize that even in these politically charged times, such 
collaboration is possible and necessary for us to fulfill our 
commitment to the American public.
  I want to thank my colleague across the aisle for her hard work on 
this bill, and I also want to acknowledge Ranking Member Waxman and 
Chairman Upton on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their support 
throughout the process.
  H.R. 5892 will expand our potential to advance clean energy 
production and create jobs. I urge all Members to vote for this bill.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris Rodgers) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5892.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

[[Page H4670]]

  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

                          ____________________