Through a letter sent to the Department of Interior and Department of Energy, the Hydropower Reform Coalition supported the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached by the two departments for offshore energy development, including marine and hydrokinetic.

In what seems like a progress from conventional ways of looking at hydropower, federal agencies that own and operate hydropower projects around the country are collaborating to find ways to increase hydropower generation while at the same time protecting the non-power interests of the basin.

Following a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2009, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Minerals Management Service s(MMS) have issued a guidance document that clarifies a lot of the process and jurisdictional questions regarding development of hydrokinetic projects on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

After months of row between FERC and Mineral MMS under the DOI over jurisdiction over renewable energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf, the two agencies signed a MOU yesterday that clarifies each agency's roles and responsibilities.

Coalition leaders American Rivers, American Whitewater, Friends of the River (California), Idaho Rivers United, Trout Unlimited, and Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper filed a complaint in federal court on December 16th challenging new federal regulations for hydropower.

Learn more about the Coalition's work on the Energy Policy Act rulemaking.

Contact: John Seebach, HRC Coordinator 202-243-7055

On Thursday, November 17th, the Departments of Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture unveiled new rules for hydropower dam licensing, as directed by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Although the public may comment on the new rules within the next sixty days, they take effect immediately, squandering the ability for the public to have an impact on something that directly affects a public resource - rivers.

Enhanced fish habitat, improved river flows, and increased access to fishing spots are just a few benefits the angling community may receive when utility-owned hydropower dams seek a new license to operate on our rivers and streams. But under a new rule proposed by the Department of the Interior, those protections and benefits are in jeopardy.

(Washington, DC) The Interior Department is poised to hand the energy industry another favor at the expense of fish restoration, outdoor recreation, and public lands protection, conservation and recreation advocates warned today. A new departmental rule, released for public comment today, provides electric utilities exclusive rights to appeal environmental and recreational requirements at hydropower dams. This policy provides hydroelectric dam owners with direct access to upper echelons of the Interior Department - but not other interested parties such as states, tribes, conservationists, anglers, boaters, local governments, and irrigators.