U.S. Representative Greg Walden of Oregon joined a bipartisan effort to pass the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act in the House. 

Walden says he was proud to be a cosponsor of the job-creating bill that will help facilitate the development of new hydropower by reducing red tape and streamlining the permitting process for new projects.

He says even though 75% of electricity in the Pacific Northwest already comes from hydropower and there's been several new projects that have come online in Central Oregon in recent years, we can do more.

New hydropower development has the potential to produce thousands of megawatts of affordable power and create thousands of American jobs in the process.

The bill had a unanimous approval in the House and now goes to the Senate.