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Reso 2000-634RESOLUTION NO. 2000-634 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT IN SUPPORT OF HYDROELECTRIC LICENSING IMPROVEMENT Hydroelectric power (or hydropower) is a clean, dependable, efficient energy source that is vital to California's economic, environmental and energy policy objectives. Yet, hydropower is also a resource at risk due to the overwhelming regulatory burdens and costs associated with the federal hydropower re- licensing process. A typical hydro license application can take from eight to ten years to weave it's way through the re- licensing process -some have taken more than twenty years. According to a recent U.S. Department of Energy report, hydropower regulatory actions since 1980 have cost the country more than $7 billion in license processing, mitigation and other costs. This report also found that two thirds of all hydro projects re- licensed since 1986 lost generating capacity as a result of the re- licensing process. If current trends continue, our state and the nation could lose a number of hydropower projects and, with them, enormous clean energy benefits. Moreover, California consumers could face increased energy replacement costs. WHEREAS, in the next 15 years, 45% of California's non - federal hydropower must be re- licensed; and WHEREAS, hydropower is one of the cheapest and most efficient energy sources for California consumers; and WHEREAS, absent hydropower, the nation would emit another 1,000,000 tons of nitrogen oxide, causing ozone, 1.78 million tons of sulfur dioxide (acid rain) and 340 million tons of carbon dioxide every year; and WHEREAS, hydro projects provide enormous opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, picnicking, boating, whitewater rafting, and whitewater skiing, as well as flood control, irrigation, and numerous other benefits; and WHEREAS, water from rivers is a purely domestic resource that is free from disruptions by foreign suppliers or transportation bottlenecks; and the "fuel" is renewed each time it rains or snows; and WHEREAS, a multitude of statutes, regulations, agency policies and court decisions has made the hydroelectric re- licensing process time- consuming, arbitrary and costly, yielding an average 8% loss in hydropower generation and leading some hydro project owners and operators to contemplate abandonment of their projects: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Costa Mesa Sanitary District calls on the U.S. Congress to improve the hydropower licensing process. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Costa Mesa Sanitary District urges all members of the California Congressional delegation to support hydropower licensing improvements to protect the environment while ensuring a viable hydroelectric industry. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Costa Mesa Sanitary District agrees to add its name to the roster of members of WaterPower: The Clean Energy Coalition, a national network of organizations who recognize the need to safeguard hydropower as a clean energy resource by improving the federal hydropower re- licensing process. PASSED and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors held on the 13th day of April 2000. ecr n , Board -of directors �� Co 'a Mesa i nitarv' District UN President, Board of Di Costa Mesa Sanitary Di STATE OF CALIFORNIA) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS CITY OF COSTA MESA ) I, Joan Revak, Clerk of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District, hereby certify that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 2000 -634, was duly and regularly passed and adopted by said Board of Directors at a regular meeting thereof held on the 13th day of April 2000. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District, this 13th day of April 2000. Clerk Vfie Costa Mesa �a_ iitary District