Press Releases

Tipton- Gosar Bill to Create Jobs and Develop Renewable Energy Passes House

Today, legislation introduced by Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-R) and Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-R)  - the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2012 (H.R. 2842), passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 265-154.  The bill will spur rural economic development and increase production of clean, renewable hydropower by removing bureaucratic over regulation. 

“Residents of Arizona are looking for solutions to two of the biggest problems facing them now: the need for jobs and the need for additional energy sources,” said Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-R) .  “Energy providers in areas like Pinal and Yuma County, Arizona are waiting on Congress to act so they can tap our state’s goldmine of hydropower potential.  This common sense legislation will create jobs and increase our country’s renewable energy portfolio by cutting duplicative, bureaucratic red tape.  There is not one solution to our nation’s energy crisis, but increased hydropower is vital part of our all-of-the-above strategy.” 

The Beardsley Canal: a conduit managed by the Maricopa Water District in western AZ that has a high potential for a hydropower project.

The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2012 will allow American energy producers to install small-scale hydropower generators on existing, man-made pipelines and canals.  This red tape is unnecessary because environmental reviews have already been conducted on these man-made facilities, and they do not contain endangered fish and wildlife.    In some cases, this duplicative red tape doubles the cost of the hydropower facility, making development cost-prohibitive.

Yesterday, Congressman Gosar spoke on the House floor in support of this bill. To hear the full speech please see the video or read the full-text here. 

H.R. 2842 is supported by the Family Farm Alliance, the American Public Power Association, the National Water Resources Association, Irrigation & Electrical Districts Association of Arizona, and the Association of California Water Association.

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