The American Public Power Association on Oct. 16 sent a letter to House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) related to concerns with the potential use of water supply studies in the upcoming Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026.
The letter emphasizes the importance of the federal hydropower system in providing affordable and reliable electricity to millions of Americans at a time when demand and electricity costs are rising across the country.
APPA expressed concerns with seemingly benign water supply studies and subsequent cost reallocations authorized by past WRDA laws. These studies have often led to negative impacts on the availability of water for hydropower generation or increased costs for federal hydropower customers.
APPA said it remains concerned that WRDA 2026 could authorize further water reallocation studies, and stressed to committee leaders that addressing water resource challenges should not come at the cost of undermining reliable federal hydropower.
