For the past month, a conference committee comprised of ranking members from both houses of Congress have been working to reconcile differing aspects of energy legislation passed in the House and the Senate. This week, the conferees released the Conference Report, their recommendation for a final Energy Bill, which was subsequently approved by both houses of Congress.

Statement from Robbin Marks, Chair of the Hydropower Reform Coalition:

"The hydropower provisions of the Conference Report substantially weaken current laws that protect rivers, recreation, and fish through the federal licensing process. This bill will delay and stall the licensing process, stretch agency resources even thinner, and shift more influence in this public process to the dam owners. Overall, the energy bill grants huge subsidies and favors to the oil, gas, nuclear, hydropower, and coal industries and fails to promote an energy policy that reduces the nation's dependence on foreign oil and encourages true renewable energy sources. The hydropower sections of the bill would have been worse, however, had it not been for the leadership of Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) who worked to ensure that all stakeholders have access to the appeals process, trial-type hearing, and dispute resolution as part of the hydropower provisions."