WASHINGTON, DC - The Energy Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), today advanced three bills to the full committee that seek to promote renewable hydropower and modernize the nation’s energy infrastructure.
The following bills unanimously passed the committee:
H.R. 1733, to direct the Secretary of Energy to review and update a report on the energy and environmental benefits of the re-refining of used lubricating oil, authored by committee members Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA), would:
* Require the Secretary of Energy to review and update a report and submit to Congress a coordinated federal strategy to increase the beneficial reuse of used lubricating oil.
#SubEnergy Chairman Upton noted, “Recycling used lubricating oil is good for the environment, reduces energy consumption, and produces high quality products for consumers."
H.R. 2872, Promoting Hydropower Development at Existing Nonpowered Dams Act, authored by committee member Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN), would:
* Promote hydropower development at existing non-powered dams by providing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with the discretion to grant exemptions from license requirements for qualifying facilities.
H.R. 2880, Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Act, authored by committee member Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), would:
* Promote closed-loop pumped storage hydropower development by limiting FERC’s authority to only impose licensing conditions that are necessary to protect public safety; or are reasonable, economically feasible, and essential to protect fish and wildlife resources.
“Hydropower is the nation’s number one renewable, producing electricity with negligible emissions. Today, it’s responsible for providing seven percent of the nation’s total energy needs," said #SubEnergy Chairman Upton. “With continued technological advancements and smarter regulations, hydropower generation could expand by an additional 50 percent by 2025. These two bills represent good faith efforts to increase hydropower in the United States."
Electronic copies of the legislation, a background memo, amendment text and votes can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website HERE.
