the film forum library tutorial contact

Three Newhouse Bills Seek to Reinforce Home-State Dams, Support Hydropower by Staff Ripon Advance, March 14, 2025

Introduced legislation would prohibit the use of federal funds
to allow the study of breaching the Lower Snake River dams

A package of bills led by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) aims to protect the Lower Snake River dams and strengthen hydropower as a reliable, affordable source of base load energy in his home state.

"The Lower Snake River dams are the foundation of our region's energy security and are vital to deliver agriculture exports to foreign markets," Rep. Newhouse said Wednesday. "Without the dams, our region would suffer severe economic consequences and rolling blackouts during times of extreme weather. I am proud to lead the coalition to protect these critical pieces of infrastructure."

Rep. Newhouse on March 11 sponsored three bills: the Defending Our Dams Act, H.R. 2073; the Protecting Our Water Energy Resource (POWER) Act, H.R. 2074; and H.R. 2072.

The congressman proposed H.R. 2073 alongside three GOP cosponsors to prohibit the use of federal funds to allow or study the breach or alteration of the Lower Snake River dams, and to prohibit spillage operations on any of the Lower Snake River dams unless such operations are approved by the U.S. Secretary of the Army and the administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration.

On the same day, Rep. Newhouse also introduced H.R. 2074 with three Republican cosponsors to prohibit the U.S. Department of the Interior and the United States Army Corps of Engineers from retiring an energy generation source if that retirement would raise customer electricity rates and decrease regional energy reliability by more than 5 percent, according to a bill summary provided by his office.

Additionally, H.R. 2074 would prohibit the breaching of federally operated dams if such action would result in an increase in carbon emission by more than 5 percent, would negatively impact navigation for commerce, and would result in an increase of at least 5 percent of the cost of goods being shipped.

Lastly, the bipartisan H.R. 2072, which Rep. Newhouse unveiled with three original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields (D-LA), would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.

Specifically, the bill would allow hydropower projects that have received a FERC license to construct to extend the time in which they can begin construction for up to an additional six years, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on March 13 introduced the bipartisan S. 1020, the companion bill to H.R. 2072, alongside five original cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and John Fetterman (D-PA).

"Many of our hydropower projects have been held up due to supply chain shortages and this bipartisan bill will revive projects that support Montana jobs and keep costs low for our families," said Sen. Daines. "I'll continue to support an all-of-the-above energy portfolio and fight for ways to increase our domestic energy production."

All three measures have garnered support from several entities, including Northwest RiverPartners, the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, the Inland Ports and Navigation Group, the National Association of Wheat Growers, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, among others.

Related Sites:
Newhouse Expands Effort to Protect Lower Snake River Dams, Hydropower in New Legislation Press Release, 3/12/25