Update on the Dams

Update on the Dams. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Last week the the House Natural Resources Committee held a legislative field hearing in Pasco, WA on H.R. 6247, the Saving Our Dams and Hydropower Development and Jobs Act of 2012. Congressman Doc Hastings introduced the legislation to help protect America’s dams and promote new clean, low-cost hydropower to help create jobs and grow the economy. Hastings had a good feeling about the hearing.

HASTINGS: Well I thought it went very good. We had a very good array of panelists, local people and the whole issue was of course to point out the benefits of the dams. Not only does it provide low cost energy but it’s very vital to our economy from the standpoint of irrigation for our farmers and barge traffic to ship our goods.

Hydropower accounts for 70 percent of electricity generation in Washington and is a source of reliable renewable energy for millions of American families across the country. Hastings says it is doubtful anything will happen at this late date.

HASTINGS: We just introduced the legislation and in all honesty because the Congressional session is coming to an end, I don’t expect any movement on that this year but this will certainly be a subject; a talking point for the next Congress.

Hastings says there was a pre-hearing rally.

HASTINGS: As a matter of fact there was a rally put together prior to the hearings so there was a number of people that felt it was important enough to come and have just a very short rally in support of hydropower. The audience was very respectful and there were some differing views obviously but I thought it was a good hearing.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.