The House Energy and Commerce Committee has unanimously approved a bill to promote development of small hydropower and conduit projects.
It was written by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Diana DeGette,D-Colo.
Conduit projects fit existing man-made structures, such as canals, with electric generating equipment. The legislation also would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to study the feasibility of a streamlined two-year permitting process.
The legislation next will be considered by the full House, where it unanimously passed last year. However, the bill did not come up for a vote before the end of the session.
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