H.R. 2786
Sponsor:
- Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.)
Cosponsor:
- Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.)
Introduced:
- 6/6/17
Status:
- Passed by House 7/18/17
WHAT IT DOES
Cuts federal reviews of small conduit (or energy-recovery) hydropower projects.
WHY WE LIKE IT
H.R. 2786 aims to aid projects that are typically low impact because they are constructed as part of existing water infrastructure, such as irrigation canals and pipes that deliver water to cities and for industrial and agricultural use.
But these small projects represent one of the most promising untapped sources for new hydropower. The U.S. has 1.2 million miles of water supply mains and there are thousands of hydro generation opportunities just within these water pipes alone. According to a Department of Energy estimate, the potential for conduit hydropower projects could be more than all the new conventional hydropower projects built in the U.S. over the past decade (1.7GW of conventional vs. up to 2GW of energy-recovery hydropower potential).