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Congress·In Committee

Congress Proposes Limits on Removing Federal Dams to Protect Energy Prices and Reliability

POWER Act

12 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Key Points

  • This bill, introduced by Representative Newhouse, would stop the government from tearing down federal dams if doing so would cause negative economic or environmental impacts. Specifically, a dam cannot be removed if it would increase carbon emissions or the cost of shipping goods by more than 5 percent.
  • The policy protects consumers by banning the closure of hydropower dams if the move would raise electricity bills by more than 5 percent. It also requires that any lost power be fully replaced within 30 days to ensure the local power grid remains stable.
  • Farmers and businesses that use rivers to move products are protected under this plan. If removing a dam makes a river harder for ships to travel or makes it more expensive to move food and other goods, the dam must stay in place.
  • The bill focuses heavily on the Pacific Northwest and Western states, including Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It prevents any changes that would make the power grid in these areas less reliable compared to the previous year.
  • Before any dam is removed, several government departments—including Agriculture, Energy, and Transportation—must study the impact and talk to state officials to make sure the change won't hurt the local economy or environment.
Energy EnvironmentInfrastructure TransportationAgriculture

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

3 milestones3 actions
Mar 11, 2025House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Mar 11, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Mar 11, 2025

Introduced in House

Related News

3 articles
E&E News·6 months ago

Republicans Praise Bill Blocking Snake River Dam Research

House Republicans advanced legislation, including the POWER Act, aimed at protecting Pacific Northwest hydropower. The bill sets strict economic and environmental benchmarks, prohibiting dam removal if it leads to a 5% increase in carbon emissions or shipping expenses.

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Truthout·6 months ago

Tribes Condemn Trump for Backing Out of Columbia River Deal for Salmon Recovery

Environmental advocates and tribal leaders are speaking out against the POWER Act (H.R. 2074), labeling it a 'salmon extinction bill.' The legislation would effectively halt dam removal efforts by setting nearly impossible economic and environmental thresholds for breaching federal structures.

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The Seattle Times·6 months ago

Legal Battle Reignites Over Lower Snake River Dams, Salmon

As litigation over salmon recovery resumes, Republican lawmakers are pushing the POWER Act to codify protections for federal dams. The bill would prevent breaching if it increases consumer electricity bills by more than 5%, a move critics say ignores the ecological cost of the dams.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

POWER Act

Bill NumberHR 2074
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(3)
R: 3

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.