Hydropower legislation is on the move in Congress and paddler’s voices are needed to protect our rivers. This week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee introduced a comprehensive energy package (the "Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015”), and the hydropower provisions hold many of the same dangerous outcomes for our rivers as the legislation we’ve been tracking in recent months.

 

If passed, the Act will severely compromise the ability of local communities, federal agencies and tribes to protect and revive rivers impacted by hydropower. American Whitewater and our partners work closely with federal agencies to restore flows for recreation and river health, and the bill has very real and serious implications for whitewater rivers you enjoy, like the Cheoah (NC), Tallulah (GA), Deerfield (MA), Yuba/Bear (CA), Chelan (WA), Bear River (ID) (and so many more). 

 

The hydropower provisions of the Energy Policy Modernization Act open the door for developers to dam and divert our nation’s few remaining free-flowing rivers, and gives preference to hydropower operations while making fish passage, river flows, and public access harder–and in some cases impossible–to achieve. 

 

 

Two markups are slated for the week of July 27th. You can make a difference for our rivers by contacting your Senators today! We encourage paddlers to share their personal experience enjoying rivers where hydropower projects provide recreational flows. We oppose any effort to undermine the public's ability to balance hydropower interests with non-power values like recreation, fish and wildlife and we encourage you to share that perspective.

 

You can also help spread the word by writing a letter to the editor in your local paper, or sharing on social media with #NoNewDams and #hydropower.

 

The hydropower industry claims that this bill is about improving regulatory efficiency and promoting a “clean and green” source of energy. In reality they are seeking an industry-wide exemption from the basic requirements for protecting public lands and rivers. 

 

Thanks for taking action, and stay tuned for updates!