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Hudson's Bipartisan Energy Bill Passes House

July 18, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2017
Hudson’s Bipartisan Energy Bill Passes House
Hudson’s Record of Bipartisan Results Continues with Third Bill to Pass the House This Year
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), member of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy Subcommittee, spoke on the House floor in support of H.R. 2786, a bipartisan bill he introduced with Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) to responsibly tap into energy resources and roll back burdensome federal regulations on conduit hydropower projects. The bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, 420-2.
Rep. Hudson continues to be laser-focused on jobs and economic growth. This is Rep. Hudson’s third bipartisan bill to pass the House this year, proving that hard work and bipartisan outreach can lead to results for our community.
Please see below for transcript and click here to view his full remarks.
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2786, my bipartisan legislation focused on tapping our immense conduit hydropower potential.Hydropower remains one of the most efficient and affordable sources of electricity, as well as one of the largest sources of renewable electricity in America. In North Carolina alone, it generates enough electricity to power 350,000 homes each year.
The opportunity is tremendous. Picture a tiny turbine placed in an existing man-made pipe that transports water from a water treatment plant. We can produce clean electric power inside these types of man-made conduits. There are over 1.2 million miles of water supply mains in the United States, creating literally thousands of energy-recovery hydropower generation opportunities. This technology is readily available and environmentally-friendly, but federal regulations have discouraged and stifled development.
That’s exactly why I introduced this commonsense bill with my colleague Diana DeGette – who I will say, even though her Broncos defeated my Panthers in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, it has really been a pleasure to work with her on this. What we’re working on is to streamline the federal review process for non-controversial conduit hydropower projects to make the projects eligible for streamlined consideration.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to expand the development of conduit hydropower projects, create clean energy jobs, increase production of affordable, renewable power, reduce consumer electricity costs and improve energy diversity.Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield back.”
Stressing the bipartisan nature of the bill, Rep. DeGette said, “I’d like to emphasize that this bill shows what Congress can accomplish when we work together in a bipartisan manner to address our country’s needs.”
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Issues:Energy