Northwest Energy Security Act

House Bill

H.R. 626

119th Congress

Northwest Energy Security Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 22, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Dan Newhouse

Representative

Republican

WA-4

Cosponsors

3

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Water Resources Development

Summary

This bill requires Federal Columbia River Power System operations to follow the 2020 EIS decision rather than later fish restoration initiatives. Changes to dam operations or Snake River navigation restrictions would require congressional authorization.

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

SponsorDan Newhouse (R-WA)

Introduced1/22/2025

StatusReferred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

ChamberHouse

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Vote Prediction

Northwest Energy Security Act

This bill requires Federal Columbia River Power System operations to follow the 2020 EIS decision rather than later fish restoration initiatives. Changes to dam operations or Snake River navigation restrictions would require congressional authorization.

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill requires Federal Columbia River Power System operations to follow the 2020 EIS decision rather than later fish restoration initiatives. Changes to dam operations or Snake River navigation restrictions would require congressional authorization.

Bill Number: 626
Sponsor: Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
Introduced: 1/22/2025
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Policy Area: Water Resources Development

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Northwest Energy Security Act
Bill Number: 626
Sponsor: Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Introduced: 1/22/2025
Summary: This bill requires Federal Columbia River Power System operations to follow the 2020 EIS decision rather than later fish restoration initiatives. Changes to dam operations or Snake River navigation restrictions would require congressional authorization.

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires Federal Columbia River Power System operations to follow the 2020 EIS decision rather than later fish restoration initiatives. Changes to dam operations or Snake River navigation restrictions would require congressional authorization.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Northwest Energy Security ActThis bill requires Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) operations to be consistent with the preferred alternative in a 2020 environmental impact statement (EIS) decision that focuses on the operations, maintenance, and configuration of dams in the system rather than wild fish restoration. The system includes dams in the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho.Specifically, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must operate the FCRPS consistent with the Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision dated September 2020. Thus, Reclamation, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the Army Corps must follow the EIS rather than the 2023 Resilient Columbia Basin Initiative—and a supplemental EIS proposed in 2024—that focus on wild fish restoration in the Columbia Basin.The EIS decision may be amended if each agency determines that (1) changes are necessary for public safety or electrical grid reliability, or (2) certain requirements in the decision are no longer necessary.Further, the bill requires statutory authorization for any structural modification, action, study, or engineering plan that (1) restricts FCRPS hydroelectric dam generation; or (2) limits navigation on the Snake River in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires FCRPS to follow 2020 EIS decision
Supersedes 2023 Resilient Columbia Basin Initiative
Requires congressional approval for dam modifications
Protects hydroelectric generation and navigation
Limits agency discretion on Columbia and Snake rivers

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Hydroelectric power generation and river navigation would be protected from fish restoration modifications. Environmental groups seeking dam changes would need congressional approval, shifting power from agencies to Congress.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Water Resources Development

Related Subjects

Alternative and renewable resources

Dams and canals

Electric power generation and transmission

Idaho

Lakes and rivers

Montana

Oregon

Washington State

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

626, 119th Congress (2025). "Northwest Energy Security Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-626

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