HOUSE BILL REPORT

2SSB 5174

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Benitz, Williams and Madsen; by request of Washington State Energy Office)

Furthering the state hydropower plan.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass. (12)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; Todd, Vice Chair; Hankins, Ranking Republican Member; Brooks, Cooper, Jacobsen, Jesernig, May, R. Meyers, Miller, H. Myers and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 12, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Federal legislation enacted in 1986 offers states increased opportunities to affect hydropower licensing decisions by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).  FERC must consider whether a proposed project is consistent with a comprehensive state hydroelectric project development plan.

Washington does not have a comprehensive plan but has a number of plans of limited scope for waterways in place or under development.  The Northwest Power Planning Council has developed a Protected Areas plan which eliminates certain river stretches from hydroelectric project development for reasons related to fish and wildlife maintenance.  FERC will consider the Power Council's Protected Areas plan,  but does not now have a unified document to consider the full range of state interests, many of which are not within the scope of the Power Council's Protected Areas plan.

SUMMARY:

Guidelines are established for future development of hydropower projects.  A comprehensive state hydropower plan is to be prepared by a task force consisting of representatives from utilities, state agencies, environmental and sportsmens groups, and Indian tribes with the assistance of an independent facilitator.  The plan will designate areas where hydropower development is likely to conflict with significant environmental values, and less sensitive areas where development will not conflict with or may enhance environmental values.  These areas of agreement are integrated with existing state laws and programs.  The plan is to be completed by March 1991.  There is a mid-point review in December 1989 to validate the task force concept for preparing the plan or shift to a specified alternative means for preparing the plan.

The plan shall be coordinated with the planning process developed by the Joint Select Committee on Water Resource Policy.

The bill is null and void if funding is not provided.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Michael Rossotto, Friends of the Earth; Tom Mortimer, Washington PUD Association; Ed McGuire, State Energy Office.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The plan will direct hydroelectric projects into acceptable areas and probably save money which could be lost through trying to develop projects in areas which are, for some reason, unacceptable.  A unified state position is needed to influence FERC effectively.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.