POWER Act

The POWER Act (HR 2074) prohibits the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or Bureau of Reclamation from breaching federally operated dams or retiring hydropower dams if such actions would increase carbon emissions by over 5%, raise shipping costs for agricultural products by 5% or more, reduce water navigability for commerce, or decrease energy reliability in specific Western states (WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, CA) by 5%. It requires federal agencies to consult with energy, transportation, and agriculture departments before proceeding with dam breaches and mandates that any retired hydropower generation must be fully replaced within 30 days to maintain grid reliability. The bill directly affects federal dam operators and energy providers in the Western U.S., focusing on preventing economic and environmental disruptions tied to hydropower infrastructure changes.