Hydro industry appeals for quick and easy licensing

Decrying the existing hydropower relicensing process as cumbersome, expensive and time-consuming, the hydropower industry made a case before the House Commerce Energy and Power Subcommittee for a legislative solution. Challenging the arguments of the industry, Margaret Bowman, chair of the Hydropower Reform Coalition and director of Hydropower Programs, American Rivers, said the industry's proposal would require natural resource agencies to compromise the few basic environmental protections provided at hydropower dams such as preservation of water quality and safeguarding fish passage.