US Congress House Bill 267 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Completed Legislative Action
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Passed on August 9 2013 - 100% progression
Action: 2013-08-09 - Became Public Law No: 113-23.
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [PDF]

Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to increase from 5,000 to 10,000 kilowatts the size of small hydroelectric power projects which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) may exempt from its license requirements. (Sec. 4) Amends the Federal Power Act to revise the limitation on the maximum installation capacity of qualifying conduit hydropower facilities that are eligible for an exemption from licensing requirements. Requires any person, state, or municipality proposing to construct a qualifying conduit hydropower facility to file with FERC a notice of intent to do so. Requires FERC, within 15 days after receiving such a notice of intent, to make an initial determination as to whether the facility meets the qualifying criteria. Waives license requirements for any conduit hydroelectric facility that: (1) uses for electric power generation only the hydroelectric potential of a non-federally owned conduit, (2) has a maximum installed capacity of 5 megawatts, and (3) is not currently licensed or exempted from license requirements. Redefines "conduit" to specify any tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance operated for the distribution of water for agricultural, municipal, or industrial consumption and not primarily for the generation of electricity. Authorizes FERC to: (1) exempt from license requirements any electric power generation facility that utilizes for such generation only the hydroelectric potential of a conduit, and has an installed capacity or 40 megawatts or fewer; and (2) extend the preliminary permit period for up to 2 additional years beyond the 3 years otherwise allowed if it finds that the permittee has implemented activities under the permit in good faith and with reasonable diligence. (Sec. 6) Directs FERC to: (1) investigate the feasibility of issuing a license for hydropower development at nonpowered dams and closed loop pumped storage projects during a two-year period, and (2) hold workshops and develop hydropower pilot projects. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to study: (1) the technical flexibility that existing pumped storage facilities can provide to support intermittent renewable electric energy generation, including the potential for such facilities to be upgraded or retrofitted with advanced commercially available technology; and (2) the technical potential of existing pumped storage facilities and new advanced pumped storage facilities to provide grid reliability benefits.

Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [R-WA]	Rep. Diana DeGette [D-CO]	Rep. John Dingell [D-MI]	Sen. Cory Gardner [R-CO]
Rep. Robert Latta [R-OH]	Sen. Ben Lujan [D-NM]	Sen. Edward Markey [D-MA]	Rep. Jim Matheson [D-UT]
Rep. Lee Terry [R-NE]	Rep. Greg Walden [R-OR]

2013-02-13 - House - On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (Y: 422 N: 0 NV: 9 Abs: 0) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2013-08-09	Senate	Became Public Law No: 113-23.
2013-08-09	Senate	Signed by President.
2013-08-06	Senate	Presented to President.
2013-08-02	Senate	Message on Senate action sent to the House.
2013-08-01	Senate	Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6257)
2013-06-03	Senate	By Senator Wyden from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 113-38.
2013-05-13	Senate	Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 71.
2013-05-13	Senate	Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Wyden without amendment. Without written report.
2013-05-08	Senate	Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
2013-04-23	Senate	Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-24.
2013-02-14	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
2013-02-13	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2013-02-13	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 0 (Roll no. 40). (text: CR 2/12/2013 H439-440)
2013-02-13	House	Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H481)
2013-02-12	House	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
2013-02-12	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 267.
2013-02-12	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H439-441)
2013-02-12	House	Mr. Whitfield moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2013-02-04	House	Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 4.
2013-02-04	House	Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-6.
2013-01-18	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
2013-01-15	House	Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

SB545 (Related) 2013-06-03 - By Senator Wyden from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 113-36.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/267/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr267/BILLS-113hr267ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr267/BILLS-113hr267rh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr267/BILLS-113hr267eh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr267/BILLS-113hr267rs.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr267/BILLS-113hr267enr.pdf
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/201340