Emphasizes the Need to Fix Hydropower Licensing, Improve Urban Canals
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Water and Power Subcommittee, discussed hydropower and aging water infrastructure legislation critical to Idaho.
“Water has allowed us to do everything from transform desert into fertile farmland and urban centers [and also] to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable baseload power across our region. Water is truly the lifeblood of what has been referred to generally as the Great Basin . . . Out west, water is a big, big issue,” said Risch.
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Risch is a cosponsor of S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, legislation introduced by Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), which would streamline the hydropower permitting process, expedite low impact projects, promote healthy habitat, and coordinate federal decision making.
“Both public and private dams serve significant populations and rural areas in Idaho, with over half of our in-state electricity generation coming from hydropower,” continued Risch.
“Idaho Power applied for an updated FERC license for the Hells Canyon Complex in July 2003, and it has still yet to be granted,” said Risch. “In the meantime, Hells Canyon continues to be operated on a temporary annual license based on its previous license issued in 1955. Not only does this mean these dams are needlessly operating based on outdated information, but it also leaves no possibility for investment or improvements to benefit efficiency, ratepayers, local communities, or the environment.”
Risch introduced S. 2160, the Urban Canal Modernization Act, which would allow aging infrastructure funds to be used for certain urban canal maintenance issues.
Of the aging New York Canal, which irrigates 167,000 acres of the Treasure Valley, Risch said: “At the time the New York Canal was built, it traveled primarily through farmland. But Idaho, like much of the west, has experienced immense urban sprawl. This once-rural canal now traverses the fastest-growing and most densely populated region in the state.”
“Despite the importance to the region and the risk if a maintenance issue were to become dire, there is extremely limited financing available to make necessary improvements to urban canals like these with extraordinary issues,” Risch concluded.
Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton voiced support for the intent of the legislation.
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