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Dingell, Markey Respond to Cheney Task Force Hydro Proposal: Go FISH!!! Dingell and Markey Unite with National and Local Environment and Recreation Groups to Unveil The Federal Investment in Sustainable Hydropower (FISH) Act Washington, D.C. – Congressmen John D. Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) today joined with American Rivers, Trout Unlimited, the Hydropower Reform Coalition and activists from Michigan and Massachusetts to unveil legislation to significantly reform the federal hydroelectric licensing process. The Congressmen developed the bill, the FISH Act (Federal Investment in Sustainable Hydropower), as a response to recommendations in the Bush Administration’s National Energy Policy report calling for legislative overhaul of the hydroelectric licensing process. "Just under a year ago, Vice President Cheney’s National Energy Policy Group issued its report on energy policy, a beautiful, slick document: more appropriate to Madison Avenue than Pennsylvania Avenue. While the report contained a few good ideas about energy policy, for the most part its recommendations can be summed up in three words: dig, drill, detonate," Dingell said. "However the Cheney report’s ideas on hydroelectric power are most accurately described by the words "dam, develop, and destroy. It’s clear that the industry and its supporters in government have for too long been allowed to define the debate over hydroelectric licensing reform. That ends now." Dingell has a long history of successfully working to preserve rivers, promote clean water and enhance fish and wildlife. In 1980, he successfully incorporated stringent environmental and energy conservation provisions into the Northwest Power Act. Six years later, Dingell and Markey authored the hydroelectric environmental reforms of the Electric Consumers Protection Act, which directs Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to give equal consideration to fish and wildlife, recreation, and other environmental benefits. During the last two years, Dingell, along with Markey, led a successful fight against industry efforts to enact legislation that would have completely undermined the environmental protections in the hydroelectric licensing process. And, in December, legislation authored by Dingell establishing an International Wildlife Refuge along the Detroit River was signed into law by the President. "The FISH Act significantly overhauls the hydroelectric licensing process in a manner that truly protects the environment. This is legislation that seeks to expedite the relicensing of hydroelectric projects, while never losing sight of the idea that rivers are a precious natural resource owned by all the American people and managed for them by the resource agencies and the states," said Dingell. The FISH Act modernizes hydropower laws to ensure that public resources are being used wisely and that the American people are compensated for the use of their waters and lands by private entities, bringing the licensing process into the twenty first century. - 30 - [Editor’s Note] Reporter’s interested in obtaining a summary of the legislation should contact Laura Sheehan at 202-225-3641 or visit the Committee’s Minority web site at www.house.gov/energycommerce. | ||
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