[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5044 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5044
To provide for a study of the potential for increasing hydroelectric
power production at existing Federal facilities, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 9, 2004
Mr. Burns (for himself and Mr. Norwood) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for a study of the potential for increasing hydroelectric
power production at existing Federal facilities, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Hydroelectric and
Environmental Enhancement Act of 2004''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) Federal multi-purpose dams and reservoirs with
hydroelectric generation provide necessary power to respective
regions, enhance recreational pursuits and help meet various
environmental needs;
(2) hydroelectric generation is a renewable resource that
plays a significant role in meeting the growing power needs of
many communities throughout the Nation;
(3) Federal dams along the Savannah River generate
electricity for consumers who depend on such power at peak
times and provide recreational and environmental benefits to
the region;
(4) a number of technological advancements have been made
at these and other Federal hydropower facilities to provide
even greater protections to fish and other aquatic resources;
and
(5) the value of these and other Federal hydropower
facilities can be further enhanced to optimize more
hydroelectric generation and environmental protection.
SEC. 3. STUDY AND REPORT ON INCREASING ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION
CAPABILITY OF EXISTING FEDERAL FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
the Army, in consultation with the Administrator of each Federal power
marketing administration, shall conduct a study of the potential for
creating or increasing electric power production capability at existing
facilities under their administrative jurisdiction.
(b) Content.--The study under this section shall include
identification and description in detail of each facility that is
capable, with or without modification, of producing additional
hydroelectric power, including estimation of the existing potential for
the facility to generate hydroelectric power.
(c) Report.--Each Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report
on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study under
this section by not later than 12 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act. Each Secretary shall include the following in
the report:
(1) The identifications, descriptions, and estimations
referred to in subsection (b).
(2) A description of activities the Secretary is currently
conducting or considering, or that could be considered, to
produce additional hydroelectric power from each identified
facility.
(3) A summary of action that has already been taken by the
Secretary to produce additional hydroelectric power from each
identified facility.
(4) The costs to install, upgrade, or modify equipment or
take other actions to produce new or additional hydroelectric
power from each identified facility and the level of Federal
power customer involvement in the Secretary's determination of
such costs.
(5) The benefits that would be achieved by such
installation, upgrade, modification, or other action, including
quantified estimates of any additional energy or capacity from
each facility identified under subsection (b).
(6) A description of actions that are planned, underway, or
might reasonably be considered to create or increase
hydroelectric power production by replacing turbines.
(7) The impact of increased hydroelectric power production
on irrigation, fish, wildlife, Indian tribes, river health,
water quality, navigation, recreation, fishing, and flood
control.
(8) Any additional recommendations the Secretary considers
advisable to increase hydroelectric power production from, and
reduce costs and improve efficiency at, facilities under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary.
SEC. 4. STUDY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INCREASED OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES
IN HYDROELECTRIC POWER PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
the Army shall conduct a study of operational methods and water
scheduling techniques at all hydroelectric power plants under the
administrative jurisdiction of each Secretary that have an electric
power production capacity greater than 50 megawatts, to--
(1) determine whether such power plants and associated
river systems are operated so as to optimize energy and
capacity capabilities; and
(2) identify measures that can be taken to improve
operational flexibility at such plants to achieve such
optimization.
(b) Report.--Each Secretary shall submit a report on the findings,
conclusions, and recommendations of the study under this section by not
later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
including a summary of the determinations and identifications under
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a). Each Secretary shall include
in the report the impact of optimized hydroelectric power production on
irrigation, fish, wildlife, Indian tribes, river health, water quality,
navigation, recreation, fishing, and flood control.
(c) Cooperation With Federal Power Marketing Administrations.--Each
Secretary shall coordinate with the Administrator of each Federal power
marketing administration in determining how the value of electric power
produced by each hydroelectric power facility that produces power
marketed by the administration can be optimized.
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