Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) and Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) launched the bipartisan Hydropower Caucus, a new forum to bring together Members of Congress with hydropower and marine energy experts across federal agencies, industry, and stakeholder organizations. 

The caucus will support and advocate for America’s first renewable energy resource and keep hydropower at the center of congressional work to lower energy costs, strengthen grid reliability, create jobs, and expand American energy production.

“Hydropower is at the heart of lowering energy costs for hardworking Granite Staters and making America the world’s clean energy superpower,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. “For generations, hydropower has delivered reliable, homegrown energy to communities across New Hampshire and our country. Our bipartisan caucus will bring together the people with the expertise and ideas we need to cut red tape, invest in innovation, and get more affordable American energy online. I’m proud to lead this effort with Congressman Harrigan, and I will keep working across the aisle to lower costs and build an energy future that works for the people we serve.”

“We are asking more of our electric grid every year, while some of the most reliable power in the country is already being generated by infrastructure we built generations ago,” said Congressman Pat Harrigan. “Hydropower works, it’s American, and there is no good reason outdated permitting and licensing should stand in the way of getting more out of it. The Hydropower Caucus gives us a bipartisan forum to work through those barriers, bring the people who actually build and operate these systems to the table, and make sure this proven source of American energy has a much bigger role in meeting the demand ahead.”

The Hydropower Caucus will serve as a venue to inform and educate Members of Congress and their staff and connect them with hydropower and marine energy subject matter experts at federal agencies, in industry, and at related stakeholder organizations. It will convene discussions on the issues facing hydropower and marine energy, including permitting and licensing reform, federal incentive programs, tax policy, research, development, and deployment.

“Hydropower is the nation’s longest tenured electricity generator, providing clean, reliable, and affordable power to homes and businesses for over a century.  Hydropower was the backbone of the industrial revolution and, with proper stewardship, will see us through the information age as well.  Hydropower has always benefited from strong bipartisan support as a result, which is why we are so proud that the Granite State’s own Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) has stepped forward to co-chair the Congressional Hydropower Caucus with Representative Pat Harrigan of North Carolina (R). New Hampshire, New England, and the Nation as a whole will benefit from Congresswoman Goodlander’s leadership, ensuring hydropower remains a core component of our domestic energy supply deep into the 21st century,” said Brandon Kibbe, Vice President of External Affairs for Great River Hydro.

“We applaud Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander’s leadership in launching the Hydropower Caucus and elevating the role of America’s first renewable energy resource. This caucus will provide an important forum for educating policymakers and advancing thoughtful solutions on licensing, permitting, tax policy, and other issues that are critical to ensuring hydropower continues to deliver reliable, affordable, and carbon-free electricity for New Hampshire and the nation,” said Bob King, President of the Granite State Hydropower Association.

“NHA applauds Representatives Goodlander and Harrigan for launching the bipartisan Hydropower Caucus. Hydropower is America’s first renewable energy resource, operating in 48 states and providing reliable power to nearly 30 million Americans. Yet too few people understand its benefits and the policy challenges it faces. The Hydropower Caucus can help change that by educating lawmakers and stakeholders about the many ways hydropower supports our communities—not only through affordable, reliable electricity, but also through irrigation, flood control, recreation, and good-paying jobs. We thank Representatives Goodlander and Harrigan for their leadership in advancing this important effort,” said Matthew Allen, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs for the National Hydropower Association.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:

Goodlander has made expanding affordable, reliable hydropower and lowering energy costs a central part of her work in Congress:

• Cutting red tape to unlock low-cost hydropower: In July, Goodlander introduced legislation alongside Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) making it easier to get reliable, low-cost hydropower projects built faster at existing Army Corps of Engineers dams.

• Investing in existing hydropower and healthy rivers: Goodlander helped introduce the bipartisan Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act, H.R. 2160, to extend a 30 percent investment tax credit through 2031 for upgrades at existing hydroelectric facilities, environmental improvements, and removal of obsolete river barriers.

• Listening to New Hampshire hydropower leaders: On National Hydropower Day, Goodlander visited Great River Hydro’s Vernon Station in Hinsdaleto see how New Hampshire hydropower is delivering affordable, reliable power. She also visited Essex Hydro Associates in Penacook and met with Granite State Hydropower Association leaders.

• Lowering energy bills: Goodlander is helping to lead a number of bipartisan bills designed to bring down energy costs, including the bipartisan Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act, to expand support for home energy-efficiency upgrades and help households save money on utility bills while making homes safer and healthier. She has also championed the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a mission-critical program for millions of American families. Goodlander joined the New Hampshire delegation in opposing the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate New Hampshire’s $43.5 million Solar for All grant, which would have supported community energy projects and reduced utility bills for low-income households by 20 percent or more.

• Cracking down on runaway utility profiteering: Goodlander helped introduce the Lowering Utility Bills Act, legislation to rein in excessive profits by investor-owned electric utilities, gas utilities, and transmission providers by requiring them to use the lowest return on equity within an established range of reasonableness when setting rates. Goodlander is leading the charge to hold Liberty Utilities accountable after the company refused to serve natural gas customers in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, causing delays and higher costs for new homes in communities already struggling with the housing crisis. She also worked alongside New Hampshire’s Office of the Consumer Advocate to take on Eversource when the utility proposed a 43.4% rate hike, and pressed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to crack down on utilities’ attempts to overcharge customers on their electric bills.

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