{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/barrasso-questions-ferc-commissioners-on-wyomings-seminoe-pumped-storage-project/", "Barrasso Questions FERC Commissioners on Wyoming\u2019s Seminoe Pumped Storage Project", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "WY", "John Barrasso", "B001261", "www.barrasso.senate.gov", "barrasso", "https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom/news-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) questioned Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) commissioners about electricity markets and the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project, a proposed hydropower project located in central Wyoming.\n\nBarrasso specifically urged the commissioners to take into account the State of Wyoming\u2019s concerns about how the Seminoe project could impact one of the most legendary trout fisheries in Wyoming, and other local wildlife.\n\nAll five FERC commissioners testified during today\u2019s Senate Energy and Natural Resources oversight hearing.\n\nOn Seminoe Pumped Storage Project State Input:\n\n\u201cWhat I want to talk about is the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project \u2014 which is in the State of Wyoming.\n\n\u201cOn June 12, FERC staff issued their recommended Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project.\n\n\u201cThis is a private project, and it would create water pumped storage infrastructure above Seminoe Reservoir \u2014 which is in Central Wyoming.\n\n\u201cFunctionally, the project works as a battery with about a capacity of efficiency of about 70%.\n\n\u201cIt uses power to pump water into storage, and then it sells power at a profit when the grid needs electricity.\n\n\u201cWyoming constituents that I\u2019ve heard from have concerns.\n\n\u201cThey worry that the project harms the only disease-free Big Horn Sheep herd in the state, and critical Mule Deer, Pronghorn, and Sage Grouse habitat.\n\n\u201cThey also worry that it harms one of the most legendary trout fisheries in Wyoming and the world. It\u2019s known as \u2018The Miracle Mile.\u2019\n\n\u201cBut it\u2019s over 5 miles; it\u2019s a stretch of the North Platte River between the Seminoe Reservoir and the Pathfinder Reservoir.\n\n\u201cThis is an area that must be protected.\n\n\u201cThe project received its water quality permit from the state \u2014 their concerns about wildlife that haven\u2019t yet been resolved in the recommended Environmental Impact Statement.\n\n\u201cThe State submitted comments on the project, which I have here and would, Mr. Chairman, like to enter into the hearing record without objection.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s critically important that Wyoming\u2019s concerns are thoughtfully and carefully considered in this process.\n\n\u201cSo, Madam Chairman, I would ask others and you to commit to taking a renewed look at the State\u2019s comments and consider their incorporation into your final decision?\u201d\n\nFollow-up:\n\n\u201cThank you. Anyone else want to weigh in on this?\u201d\n\nOn Electricity Market Governance:\n\n\u201cWestern electricity markets \u2014 they are evolving rapidly, as you all know.\n\n\u201cThis comes from the implementation of new day-ahead markets.\n\n\u201cIt comes from the new Regional Organization for Western Energy, and Southwest Power Pool\u2019s expansion to the west.\n\n\u201cThe goal is unified and coordinated electricity transmission.\n\n\u201cWhile participation in this new model can be a good thing, states like Wyoming need a meaningful voice in governance.\n\n\u201cWyoming is the number one electricity exporter in the western interconnection.\n\n\u201cWe have the highest net exports of energy per capita.\n\n\u201cThat makes Wyoming the backbone of the grid.\n\n\u201cSo, what steps are FERC planning to take to ensure meaningful state participation as the Extended Day Ahead Market and Western Energy Imbalance Markets evolve?\u201d\n\nFollow-up:\n\n\u201cGreat. Anyone else want to respond on that?\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/barrasso-questions-ferc-commissioners-on-wyomings-seminoe-pumped-storage-project/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3899807818233967, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}