The National Hydropower Association honored Sen. Lisa Murkowski with a Legislator of the Year award for her work on the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 and her continuing support of hydroelectric power.
The Act was signed into law by President Barrack Obama in August and Robert Dillon with Sen. Murkowski’s office said Murkowski had originally introduced the act in 2010 and again in 2013.
Dillon: “This bill in particular, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act, helped with the signing and helped relieve some of the red tape and the permitting requirements when sighting smaller hydropower facilities. She’s also been a big proponent of river hydropower turbines and in the research on wave and tidal hydropower generation.”
The NHA also honored the Act’s other sponsor and co-sponsors, Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Representatives Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-Washington), and Diana DeGette (D-Colorado).
Dillon also said Murkowski has been involved in the Cook Inlet Tidal Project with Ocean Renewable Power Company.
Dillon: “She continues to work on that, on initiatives to make sure that hydropower is treated equally with other renewable sources when it comes to tax credits and qualifying for government programs.”