Political Quotes

“I rise in support of S. 1020, led by Senator Daines and, in the House of Representatives, by Representative Newhouse. Hydropower is a critical part of our Nation's energy mix, supplying baseload power to approximately 30 million homes and businesses and accounting for 40 percent of our black start capacity. S. 1020 authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, to extend construction deadlines for critical hydropower projects licensed before March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains and halted many projects. Current law requires hydropower projects to commence construction within 10 years of receiving a license. This legislation allows FERC to authorize an additional 6 years for certain projects to ensure fully licensed infrastructure is not permanently halted, depriving Americans of reliable energy. There are currently 37 projects, across 15 States, that are at risk of losing licenses without the passage of this bill providing additional construction time. These projects in limbo would provide energy that is imperative to power our communities, win the artificial intelligence race, and lower electricity prices for consumers. I urge my colleagues to support S. 1020, and I reserve the balance of my time.”