This week the 113th Congress approved its first piece of legislation, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act. It must have felt good after all the customary political strife these days–refreshing like a splash of water in the face. And here’s the thing: the vote was 422-0. That’s what’s called unanimous. Having a hard time picturing Harry Reid and John (“Go F&%# Yourself”) Boehner agreeing on something? Well it happens. In December the House voted 397-0 against letting the UN have anything to do with regulating the Internet. 397-0 translates loosely into “are you kidding, China?” And then just the month before there was a unanimous “are you kidding, Hamas?” vote, declaring US solidarity with Israel.
So it happens. And hydropower sounds so clean and friendly. It’s also, as the hydro industry is swift to point out, the renewable energy source least susceptible to variability. Sometimes it’s just cloudy with no wind, and that’s a fact. The legislation loosens restrictions that industry experts say have curtailed hydro’s market penetration. A bunch of Democrats outside the House chamber were heard to say “well it ain’t fracking.” And now we know that Marco Rubio is not the only lawmaker with water issues. For more on hydropower, visit worldwatch.org.