Bill > HR2074

This bill, known as the POWER Act (Protecting Our Water Energy Resources Act), establishes significant restrictions on breaching federally operated dams and retiring energy generation sources. The bill prohibits the Secretary of the Army from breaching a dam if doing so would increase carbon emissions by more than 5 percent, reduce navigability for commercial interests, raise product shipping prices by at least 5 percent, or require a replacement energy resource that occupies more land than the original dam. Before making such decisions, the Secretary must consult with multiple federal agencies, including the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Agriculture, and Commerce, as well as relevant state agencies. Additionally, the bill prevents the retirement of energy generation sources if such actions would increase customer electricity rates by more than 5 percent or decrease energy reliability by more than 5 percent in specific Western states. If an energy generation source is retired, the bill requires that 100 percent of its baseload generation (the minimum electric power supplied to the grid) must be replaced within 30 days. The legislation specifically applies to federally operated dams that generate hydropower, managed by either the Bureau of Reclamation or the Army Corps of Engineers, and aims to protect existing energy infrastructure and prevent potential negative economic and environmental impacts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2074/all-info