Murkowski Applauds Signing of Two Bills Advancing Renewable Hydropower

August 12, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s signing of two bills to advance the development of small hydropower projects – the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act and the Hydropower and Rural Jobs Act:

“The signing of these two bipartisan bills will further Americans’ access to the most cost-effective and reliable source of renewable energy available to us,” Murkowski said. “Hydropower is our hardest working renewable resource and a critical part of our efforts to generate low-cost electricity. These measures will advance the development of small hydropower and conduit projects, and allow existing dams to be retrofitted with power-generating turbines.”

The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act seeks to increase the nation’s hydropower capacity to significantly boost renewable energy production and create jobs. The Hydropower and Rural Jobs Act would spur development of hydropower projects on existing canals and conduits on Bureau of Reclamation land. The bills were signed into law on Friday.