Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act

Madam President, I rise today to pass important legislation in the State of Wyoming. This bill has only to do with Wyoming and no other State. It is H.R. 3415, the Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act.

It allows the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to transfer the ownership of the facility to stakeholders in my home State of Wyoming. The Pilot Butte power plant is owned by the Federal Government, but it has not been in service since 2008. It closed when it became too costly to operate. So it has been sitting idle there in Wyoming in a small area of 2\1/2\ acres for the past 15 years. It is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and they are planning to demolish it.

To be clear, we are talking about a mothballed hydroelectric structure. We are talking about 2 acres of Bureau of Reclamation land. This is essentially 1\1/2\ football fields in size. That is how small of a footprint this is.

Well, the Midvale Irrigation District in Pavillion, WY, reached out to the Wyoming congressional delegation--all three members of the delegation--saying that they were willing to take ownership of this power plant that has been sitting idle for 15 years and ready to be demolished. Midvale Irrigation proposed this transfer as a solution to provide energy to local users. The local people right there came to us. They said that they will make the needed repairs to bring this power station back into operation.

If enacted, the bill will enable the facility to be revived after years and years of neglect and sitting idle. Communities in my home State of Wyoming will once again be able to get electricity from this local source of hydropower. This transfer is the only option to save the facility for future use. Without this bill, the Bureau of Reclamation plans to demolish the facility. As a result, it is going to cost the American taxpayers over $7 million to destroy this property.

This bill that I have introduced, sponsored by the entire Wyoming delegation, is a win-win. The American people will no longer own a mothballed facility that is going to cost $7 million to demolish, and the people of Wyoming will be able to put the hydropower plant back into use.

Now, there has been a lot of conversation about the consultations and discussions that I have had with community members and stakeholders. I have met directly with both the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapahoe Tribes regarding this specific bill and the hydropower plant. Since February--February of this year--my office has been actively engaged in discussions with all parties involved. This summer, my staff visited the facility and met with all of the stakeholders.

Everyone wants to see the facility operating again, and I am confident that the people of Wyoming will properly manage this facility in a way that benefits everyone in the local community.

The House of Representatives passed this legislation unanimously back in February. It has the support of the entire Wyoming delegation.

So, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 3415, which was received from the House; further, that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Madam President, this 2\1/2\ acre piece of land is owned by the Bureau of Reclamation--not owned by the Tribe, not owned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This is owned by the Bureau of Reclamation. It is a title transfer to create an energy source for local stakeholders. This is all about my home State of Wyoming. We are talking 2\1/2\ acres.

I understand the Senator from Minnesota is making this objection on her behalf as well as the behalf of the Senator from New Mexico. Let me assure the Senators from Minnesota and New Mexico that I will be vigilant and watching out for bills that impact at least 2\1/2\ acres in their home States. For example, the Senator from New Mexico, right now, has a bill, Cerro de la Olla, and it was reported favorably out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Madam President, that bill established 12,000 acres--not 2\1/2\ acres--12,000 acres of wilderness in New Mexico. This bill in my home State--not New Mexico, not Minnesota--Bureau of Reclamation land is 2\1/2\ acres.

As I said, I will be vigilant and watching out for bills that impact at least 2\1/2\ acres in their home States. And I consider their bills now dead until the Pilot Butte issue is resolved.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, could I clarify for the Chair, Calendar No. 304 was misread as 301. It is 304, which is S. 961.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, the Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act.

This important legislation initiates the transfer of the Pilot Butte Power Plant from the Bureau of Reclamation to the Midvale Irrigation District.

Specifically, the Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act requires the Bureau of Reclamation to enter good-faith negotiations with the Midvale Irrigation District for the conveyance of the Pilot Butte Power Plant, located in Pavillion, Wyoming. This is a critical step towards improving responsible resource management.

Several months ago, we had the privilege of learning from Wyoming's Midvale Irrigation District on this important topic in a hearing in the Subcommittee of Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

In this hearing, we learned from both Midvale and the Bureau that this conveyance will allow the district to more easily maintain and operate the plant after the title transfer.

The message from each party involved in the conveyance was that this is a win-win for everyone involved. Transferring ownership of the power plant to Midvale will provide for greater flexibility and relieve administrative burdens for the Bureau of Reclamation.

As we all know, local communities and entities are often better equipped to understand the unique needs and challenges of their communities.

Placing control of the hydro plant in the hands of Midvale Irrigation District will empower them to make decisions that directly impact their region. This conveyance promotes a sense of ownership and accountability that will lead to more efficient operations and responsive governance.

This transfer will have positive economic benefits. Hydroelectric plants have the potential to generate substantial revenue. By allowing Midvale to control these resources, they can reinvest profits into the community. This will ultimately mean improved infrastructure and more support for local businesses.

The economic ripple effect can be profound and positively impact the lives of those living in the district.

Moreover, it is important to note that Midvale is intimately familiar with the intricacies of water management and distribution in their area. Updating and repairing this hydro plant will expand the State's portfolio, allowing for a more holistic approach to resource management.

This will help Wyoming to optimize water usage, balancing the needs of agriculture, industry, and the environment more effectively.

We have an obvious need to increase the amount of water stored through surface infrastructure and groundwater storage projects.

This particular conveyance will allow us to more effectively manage our water and provide power to our communities. Additionally, environmental stewardship is a critical consideration.

Wyomingites are more attuned to the ecological nuances of their surroundings. By placing the hydro plant under local control, we increase the practice of responsible environmental practices. This includes measures to protect aquatic life, maintain water quality, and ensure the responsible operation of the plant without compromising our ecosystems.

The Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act will empower Wyoming communities, boost Wyoming's economy, enhance resource management, and promote responsible environmental practices.

It is a decision that reflects the values of decentralization, self- determination, and self-reliance.

I thank Senator Barrasso and Senator Lummis for their leadership on this issue on the Senate side, and Midvale Irrigation District manager Steve Lynn, who was critical in elevating this issue and the solution we have before us this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3415) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Midvale Irrigation District the Pilot

Butte Power Plant in the State of Wyoming, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3415, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3415 sponsored by Congresswoman Hageman of Wyoming. This legislation would direct the Bureau of Reclamation to enter negotiations with the Midvale Irrigation District to transfer the Pilot Butte Power Plant to the district.

Under current law, the Bureau of Reclamation holds title to the power plant and related facilities, and ownership of the power plant cannot be transferred unless authorized by Congress.

This plant has not produced electricity since 2008, when the Bureau of Reclamation determined that increasing operation and maintenance costs made electricity generation at the plant economically infeasible.

The district has expressed interest in taking ownership and rehabilitating and operating the power plant and related facilities to provide power to the district's water users.

This legislation is the first step in achieving that goal. It would allow the Midvale Irrigation District to harness additional hydroelectric power resources, a carbon-free, reliable source of energy.

At a time when good stewardship of taxpayer resources and access to reliable energy are at the forefront of so many debates in Washington, I am proud that our committee advanced legislation that accomplishes both objectives.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Hageman for her leadership. I urge adoption of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman), the bill's sponsor.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, the principle of cooperative federalism means that decisions are made at the appropriate level of government, at the Federal, State, and local levels.

H.R. 3415 embodies this principle by transferring control of the Pilot Butte Power Plant to the Midvale Irrigation District, putting local project beneficiaries in charge of resource management, harnessing additional hydroelectric power resources, and ultimately, lowering cost.

I once again thank Congresswoman Hageman for her leadership. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam President, I rise today to thank Senator Barrasso and my colleagues on Energy and Natural Resources.

Today, we were able to pass H.R. 5443, which is the Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act. I am so appreciative of my colleagues for that support today. This is going to make a real difference for working families in this country.

We know that every parcel of land the Federal Government transfers or sells has to be appraised. Right now, we have a backlog of transfers waiting on approval because of a shortage of appraisals. That is delaying affordable housing construction, conservation efforts, and critical infrastructure projects that we really need in Nevada.

I thank my colleagues in joining me in cutting through this government redtape.

This act was authored by me here in the Senate but also my colleague Congresswoman Susie Lee in the House. It will speed up land transfers at no additional cost to the American taxpayer by giving private appraisers the same flexibility as the government to be part of this process. In my home State of Nevada, where over 80 percent of the land is owned by the Federal Government, that is a big deal.

This is a commonsense bipartisan solution. I am so grateful we were able to pass it today.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, reserving the right to object, I want to say that I understand that Senator Heinrich from New Mexico has concerns about the Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act, and I share his concerns.

The Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapahoe Tribes are rightfully concerned about the lack of official Federal Government to Tribal consultation on this proposal which would directly impact their reservation. I know that one of our most fundamental responsibilities as a body is to honor our trust and treaty obligations to Tribal nations and to uphold that government-to-government relationship.

I want to say that I appreciate Senator Barrasso's work with my colleagues on these land bills, and I am not objecting to any others of them. However, I urge that we have the Tribal consultation that should be appropriately conducted on this bill; therefore, I object to the passage of H.R. 3415.