NOR'WESTER NEWSLETTER ISSUE #410                                            Visit us on Facebook! Facebookmasthead

January 23, 2012

In This Issue:
Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers: Support America's Hydropower
Corps conducting review of regulatory program
PNWA supports inclusion of RAMP Act in Transportation Reauthorization bill
Budget delay reported
Port of Siuslaw opens search for Port Manager
Register today for the PNWA Mission to Washington

Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers: Support America's Hydropower

 

At a time when America's economy is still fragile, job creation is stagnant, and energy prices are rising, we should be looking at every opportunity to put Americans back to work and increase domestic energy production. America's hydropower industry is ready to meet this challenge.

 

As Eastern Washington's voice in Congress, I know that hydropower helped build the Pacific Northwest.  Decades ago, they turned what was once a desert into one of the most productive agricultural regions in the country.  In addition to providing flood control and transportation, dams also provide the affordable, renewable energy that helped give birth to Boeing and Kaiser Aluminum and then turned them into global leaders in specialized manufacturing. Now the dams are powering hi-tech data centers in Eastern Washington such as the Titan complex in Moses Lake and the Yahoo, Intuit, and Microsoft data centers in Quincy.

 

And yet, despite its numerous advantages, hydropower remains vastly underutilized.  While hydro meets 72 percent of Washington State's total electricity needs, nationwide that number is only 7 percent.  Furthermore, according to the National Hydropower Association, simply increasing the capacity at existing dams could create 700,000 new jobs.  Again, that's without building a single new dam.

 

As the founder of the Congressional Hydropower Caucus, I've been working to spread the great news about hydropower.  And I'm excited to announce a new bipartisan bill with Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) to expand domestic hydropower production.  Our bill, H.R. 3680, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act, would facilitate the development of hydropower and conduit projects through several common-sense reforms: First, we would exempt small hydropower and conduit projects (those generating under 5 megawatts of electricity) from the regulatory process completely.  Next, we would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the option to exempt hydro and conduit projects generating between 5-40 megawatts from the permitting process.  Too often, these hydropower and conduit projects get caught up in the permitting process.  By expediting the process in a way that establishes parity between the public and private sectors and between federal and non-federal agencies, we can unleash the enormous potential of American hydropower.

 

Rep. DeGette and I are going to push hard on this legislation because it will create jobs and ensure America's competitive advantage in the energy sector.  Hydropower has the capacity to meet our nation's growing energy needs, reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, bolster irrigation, and put Americans back to work. 

 

It's time to say 'yes' to American hydropower.  And that's precisely what our bill does.  I look forward to working with PNWA members to get the bill passed through Congress and signed into law. 

 

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and founder of the Congressional Hydropower Caucus. 

 

Corps conducting review of regulatory program

 

On November 16, 2011 the Corps published in the Federal Register its request for public comments on its proposal to improve its regulations and regulatory reviews. Federal agencies are required to review existing significant regulations and identify those that can be made more effective or less burdensome in achieving regulatory objectives.

 

The Executive Order directs each agency to periodically review its existing significant regulations to determine whether any regulations should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed so as to make the agency's regulatory program more effective or less burdensome in achieving the regulatory objectives.  Based on the feedback we received from our members, PNWA submitted comments which may be found here. We will keep you informed as the Corps' effort moves forward.

 

PNWA supports inclusion of RAMP Act in Transportation Reauthorization bill

 

SAFETEA-LU expires again on March 31st. PNWA strongly supports House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica's inclusion of a maritime title in his committee's reauthorization bill: the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act (H.R.7). A summary of the bill, which is scheduled to be introduced soon, can be found here: http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/singlepages.aspx/911.

 

The draft maritime provision includes the RAMP Act (H.R.104) which has over 150 cosponsors in the House and 29 in the Senate. The RAMP Act requires the full spending of the annual revenue in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) on coastal navigation infrastructure operations and maintenance, including dredging and jetties.

 

To read more about PNWA's position on the on HMTF please visit our website               

 

Budget delay reported

 

It was reported today that the Administration's FY2013 budget will not be released on Monday, February 6th as anticipated, but rather on Monday, February 13th.  The budget is traditionally released on the first Monday in February each year, for the coming fiscal year.  The 2013 fiscal year begins on October 1, 2012.

 

This one week delay in the release of the budget means a shortened timeframe for PNWA and its members to digest the Administration's proposed project funding, and develop our own supported funding levels.  PNWA staff will be working hard to gather information as soon as the budget is released, and we look forward to delivering that information to our members and colleagues during our three regional meetings in February and our Mission to Washington DC in March. 

 

Port of Siuslaw opens search for Port Manager

 

The Port of Siuslaw on the central Oregon coast has announced their search for a Port Manager. This is a full time, salaried position responsible for: the management and operations of the Port; promoting economic development in the Port district; the overall administration of the Port's fiscal matters and personnel policies; the development, operation and maintenance of all Port facilities; tenant and public relations; and being on call 24 hours per day. Salary range is $50,000 - $70,000 DOE, and the Manager reports to the Port Commission. For additional information, including a complete job description and full application form, log onto www.portofsiuslaw.com or call 541-997-3426. All applications must be submitted by Friday, February 3, 2012 at 5:00pm.

 

Register today for the PNWA Mission to Washington

 

This year's annual gathering will take place at the Madison Hotel, and will feature extremely valuable general sessions with national industry leaders and federal agency staff. PNWA is also the only organization to schedule convenient, coordinated meetings with our entire Northwest Congressional delegation. It is a truly unique lobbying effort with every Member of Congress from our region - make your plans to participate today!

  

2012 Mission to Washington, DC

March 4-8, 2012

The Madison Hotel
1177 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Reservations: 800-424-8577

http://www.madisonhoteldc.com/

  

Speakers include:

Sonya Baskerville, Manager, National Relations, Bonneville Power Administration

Roger Cockrell, Professional Staff Member, Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee

Amy Larson, President, National Waterways Conference

Barry Holliday, Technical Director, Dredging Contractors of America

Jorge Romero, Attorney, K&L Gates

Dave Sanford, Director of Navigation Policy and Legislation, American Association of Port Authorities

and More!

 

Topics include:

Columbia River Treaty

BPA's perspective on market-based vs. cost-based rates

Energy & Water Appropriations from both the House and Senate perspective

Inland Waterways Trust Fund

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund

Transportation policy & funding including the Highway Bill and TIGER Grants

Corps Headquarters budget creation

Funding outlook from the Administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

A DC reporter's perspective on the 2012 election

 

For an example of PNWA's Mission to Washington, click here to take a look at the tremendous program that was presented in 2011!

 

Sponsor our Taste the Northwest - The PNWA signature reception on Capitol Hill

The PNWA Mission to Washington "Taste the Northwest" Reception on Capitol Hill - a very popular event among members of Congress and their staff. This is a great opportunity for members of Congress, Congressional Staff, federal agency officials, and industry leaders to meet with each other and with the PNWA membership. As always, we will feature specialty foods and beverages from the Pacific Northwest and we need your help! If you would like to donate foods or beverages from the Northwest, please contact Heather Stebbings by email or at 503-234-8553.

 

Twilight Monument Tour

Washington DC's spectacular monuments at night are not to be missed! We will board the tour bus on Monday, March 5th at 7pm at Union Station and make stops at the MLK, FDR, Iwo Jima, Lincoln, Korean War Veteran's and Vietnam Veteran's Memorials. There is no additional cost for this tour - it is complimentary for each PNWA registrant and their guest! A limited number of seats are available, so please be sure to sign up when you register for the meeting. This is a beautiful way to see the DC's top attractions - we hope you can join us!

PNWA Regional Meetings
 

Online registration is also available for our three regional meetings in February 2012. These meetings will help prepare our priority issues for our annual Mission to Washington, DC, and are also a great opportunity to give and receive updates on individuation projects and regional issues. A PNWA staff report will include information on FY13 appropriations, navigation policy and projects, energy issues, environmental and regulatory issues, and the PNWA Mission to Washington. Please note that you do not need to register for the Mission to Washington to attend the Regional Meetings - these are free meetings for all members, and provide great value.

 

Puget Sound Regional Meeting - February 15, 2012
Moffatt & Nichol, 600 University Street, Suite 610, Seattle, WA, 11:30-2pm

 

Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho Regional Meeting - February 17, 2012
Port of Pasco, 1110 Osprey Point Blvd, Pasco, WA, 11:30-2pm

 

Lower Columbia River/OR & SW WA Coast Regional Meeting - February 21, 2012
Port of Portland, 7200 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 12-3pm

 

For more information on our 2012 events, log onto our website or contact Heather Stebbings at [email protected].