CC - Item IV D - Authorization To Join Water PowerTO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
FROM: G. TRIPEPI, CITY MANAGER
DATE: MARCH 23, 2000
MAR 2 v 20100
RE: AUTHORIZATION TO JOIN WATERPOWER: THE CLEAN ENERGY
COALITION
Attached for your consideration is information regarding the aforementioned organization.
There is no fee to join, however by joining, you are allowing the coalition to list the City's name
on its roster of members.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize staff to complete the application and mail it in.
ITEM reo. CC-~
staf epor
WaterPower
The Clean Energy Coalition
What Is WaterPower? The purpose of Waterpower: The Clean Energy Coalition is to
bring together a diverse group of public and investor-owned hydropower producers,
consumers, businesses, associations, municipalities, and environmental, labor, and
recreational organizations who recognize the need to safeguard hydropower as a clean
energy resource by improving the federal hydropower relicensing process.
What Does WaterPower Do? This free-standing coalition serves as a network to
demonstrate public support for the principles outlined in the WaterPower Mission
Statement. While the strength of WaterPower is principally its roster of members, there
will be numerous opportunities for the coalition and its members to actively promote the
benefits of hydropower, and of proposed legislative improvements to the federal
relicensing process, before Congress, the media and the American public.
What Does WaterPower Seek to Achieve? WaterPower seeks to secure meaningful
improvements to the hydroelectric licensing process, such as those contained in the
"Hydroelectric Licensing Process Improvement Act of 1999" (H.R.2335/S.740) currently
before the U.S. Congress. In the end, success will be measured by the strength of the
improvements made to the licensing process, irrespective of how the remedies are
achieved.
To What Am I Committing Myself By Joining WaterPower? Byjoining
WaterPower, you are allowing the coalition to list your organization's name on its roster
of members. Any other use of your or your organization's name would require your prior
approval. While WaterPower encourages its members to participate in a wide variety of
coalition activities, such participation is purely voluntary.
What Does It Cost To Join WaterPower? There is no membership fee.
How Do I Join WaterPower? To join WaterPower, simply fill out the attached
enrollment form and return it via mail or far to the address/fax number listed.
How Can I Learn More About WaterPower? For further information about
WaterPower: The Clean Energy Coalition, please contact Joel Malina or Samantha Gross,
1317 F Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20004, (202) 628-5850 (p),
(202) 347-5614 (0, waterpower@conx.com
WaterPower
The Clean Energy Coalition
MISSION STATEMENT
Hydropower - electricity generated from the kinetic energy of falling water - is a clean,
dependable, efficient energy source that is vital to our nation's environmental and energy
policy objectives. Hydropower...
is low cost and efficient. American consumers benefit from hydropower one of the
cheapest energy sources. Hydropower is capable of converting 90 percent of available
energy into electricity, more efficient than any other form of generation.
is reliable, renewable and secure. Water from rivers is a purely domestic resource that
is free from disruptions by foreign suppliers or transportation bottlenecks; and the "fuel"
is renewed each time it rains or snows.
is a sound environmental choice. Emissions-free hydropower helps our nation meet its
clean air goals. In 1997, hydropower displaced the equivalent of burning 143 million
tons of coal, 20 million barrels of oil, and 471 billion cubic feet of natural gas combined,
preventing the emission of 336 million tons of carbon dioxide. This is the equivalent of
removing 67 million passenger cars-or 1/2 of the current fleet-from the roadway
today.
provides Americans with abundant recreational opportunities. Hydro projects provide
enormous opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, picnicking, boating,
whitewater rafting, and water skiing, as well as flood control, irrigation, and numerous
other benefits.
Hydropower is also a resource at risk. Due to the overwhelming regulatory burdens and
costs associated with the federal hydropower relicensing process, many hydropower
projects are losing generation and facing uncertain futures. A typical hydro license
application can take from eight to 10 years to weave its way through the licensing
process-some have taken more than 20 years. According to a recent U.S. Department of
Energy report, hydropower regulatory actions since 1980 have cost the country more than
$7 billion in license processing, mitigation and other costs. Indeed, this report found that
two thirds of all hydro projects relicensed since 1986 lost generation as a result of the
relicensing process. If current trends continue, our country could lose a number of
hydropower projects and, with them, enormous clean energy benefits. Moreover,
consumers could face increased energy replacement costs.
With over half of all non-federal hydroelectric capacity scheduled to be relicensed in the
next 15 years, WaterPower: The Clean Energy Coalition calls on Congress to improve
the hydropower licensing process. We support implementation of our nation's
environmental laws to achieve a balance that will protect the environment while ensuring
a viable hydroelectric industry.
WHY HYDROPOWER LICENSING IMPROVEMENT IS NECESSARY
What's Wrong With the Hydropower Relicensing Process? A multitude of statutes, regulations,
agency policies and court decisions has made the hydroelectric relicensing process time-consuming,
arbitrary and costly.
• A typical hydro project can take from eight to 10 years to weave its way through the licensing
process-some have taken as long as 28 years. In comparison, gas fired plants can typically be
sited and licensed in 18 months.
• Federal agencies are allowed to set conditions on licenses without regard to their effects on
project economics, energy benefits and values protected by other statutes or regulations.
• There is no referee that can resolve conflicts between agencies or reconcile inconsistent
demands. Often, the result is license conditions that have nothing to do with project impacts.
• Hydropower licensees have no recourse to appeal, or even question, the basis of mandatory
conditions set by the agencies, except through litigation.
• Relicensing consistently results in higher costs, loss of operational flexibility, and lost
generation due to new constraints imposed on operations.
Accordingly, some hydro project owners and operators are contemplating abandonment of their
projects. The loss of a hydro project means more than the loss of clean, efficient, renewable electric
power. Hydro projects provide water, flood control, fish and wildlife habitat, irrigation,
transportation and recreation benefits. Also, due to its unique load-following capability, peaking
capacity and voltage stability attributes, hydropower plays a critical role in maintaining reliable
electric service.
Why Does Congress Need to Legislate on This Issue Now? Over half of all non-federal
hydroelectric capacity is scheduled to be relicensed in the next 15 years. If Congress does not act
now to improve the relicensing process, our nation's hydropower resource will be seriously eroded,
to the detriment of consumers, the environment, our energy mix and our economy.
What Does the Proposed Legislation Do? The Hydroelectric Relicensing Process Improvement
Act of 1999 (5.740/H.R.2335), introduced by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) and Congressman
Edolphus Towns (D-NY), would amend the Federal Power Act by requiring the FERC to set a date-
certain of no more than one year of infra-agency review. This would assure the timely submission
of conditions based on consideration of all relevant factors by resource agencies.
Does the Legislation Repeal Agency Mandatory Conditioning Authority? The legislation does
not repeal mandatory conditioning authority. Rather, the proposal would give these agencies the
responsibility to consider, and.be accountable for, the full effects of their actions before imposing
mandatory conditions on a hydro license. The absolute power accorded to resource agencies must
be coupled with an equal level of responsibility and accountability.
Does the Legislation Seek to Repeal or Modify Any Environmental Laws Involved With the
Hydropower Licensing Process? No, the legislation does not propose repeal or modification of
environmental laws. Rather, the bill calls for the reasonable implementation of these laws, to
achieve a balance that will protect the environment while ensuring a viable hydroelectric industry.
August 26, 1999
WaterPower
The Clean Energy Coalition
ENROLLMENT FORM
I have read the Mission Statement and wish to add my organization's
name to the WaterPower member list.
Your name:
Title:
Organization:
Address:
City / State / Zip:
Phone / Fax:
Email Address:
Your Signature:
Please indicate in which of the following activities you would be interested in
participating:
❑ Meeting with your Members of Congress in local district/state office
❑ Meeting with your Members of Congress in Washington, D.C.
❑ Attending local coalition-sponsored meetings
❑ Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspapers
WaterPower-The Clean Energy Coalition is a diverse group ofpublic and investor-owned
hydropower producers, consumers, businesses, associations, municipalities, and environmental,
labor, and recreational organizations who recognize the need to safeguard hydropower as a
clean energy resource by improving the federal hydropower relicensing process.
Please return this form via fax to WaterPower at (202) 347-5614 (f)
1317 F Street, N.W. Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20004