Washington, D.C.-The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has approved a three-year extension to advance construction projects at American Falls Reservoir and Little Wood River Ranch. The Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission (FERC) extensions were sponsored by Senator Jim Risch, through the Subcommittee on Water and Power. The extension language was included in S. 3099 and S. 3100, a package of similar relicensing bills.

"Moving this bill out of the Energy Committee is an important step toward keeping Idahoans at work on these projects. It will also result in additional capacity for production of clean, renewable energy," said Risch.

Senator Mike Crapo is a cosponsor of the legislation to extend the projects.

S. 3099, with the American Falls project, and S. 3100, with the Little Wood River project, now move to the Senate floor.

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