Photo of agency leaders in a row at congressional briefing

WAPA’s Media Line: 720-962-7411

​​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2023

CONTACT: Stephen J. Collier, mediarelations@wapa.gov, 720-962-7411

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Administrator and CEO Tracey A. LeBeau testified May 23 before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee’s Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee on the Western Area Power Administration’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget request.

Together with leadership from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and other power marketing administrations, LeBeau shared with committee members both the challenges and obstacles facing WAPA’s mission of safely providing reliable, cost-based hydropower and transmission to its customers who in turn serve more than 40 million Americans throughout the western United States. 

Additionally, LeBeau emphasized how the organization’s FY24 budget proposal supports its strategic vision of empowering communities while securing a resilient energy future. 

“Hydropower is an indispensable tool in our clean energy toolbelt,” said LeBeau. “It’s a renewable energy source. Hydropower currently accounts for 32 percent of America’s renewable electricity generation. Meanwhile, it helps boost grid reliability and flexibility.” 

The Administrator’s testimony also highlighted WAPA’s strategic planning toward issues such as extreme weather and the historic drought conditions across WAPA’s footprint. LeBeau also provided committee members with an overview of WAPA’s financial model and how FY24 budget requirements aimed to optimize investments in system reliability and improve cost efficiency.

“WAPA has performed at the highest level in response to these challenges,” LeBeau said. “Overall, the benefits of hydropower continue even in times of extreme drought. Despite resource variability, environmental and other challenges, hydropower remains among the lowest cost and cleanest energy resources available.”   

 WAPA’s hydropower rates to its approximately 700 customers are often among the lowest in the country, supporting the prosperity and viability of rural economies, Native American Tribes, irrigation districts and other customers.

“Communities in WAPA’s footprint depend on the power [we] deliver each day to light and heat homes, and to power local economies, manufacturing bases and other economic centers,” LeBeau stated. “It is our duty to ensure electricity is available and affordable to those who have come to rely on it for critical basic needs.”

Read or view LeBeau’s remarks

Oral testimony                  

Written testimony​​ (PDF)​

Tracey LeBeau (second from right), Administrator and CEO of the Western Area Power Administration, provided Congressional testimony on WAPA's Fiscal Year 2024 budget request to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee's Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee May 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C. LeBeau was joined by (left to right): U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton, Bonneville Power Administration Administrator and CEO John Hairston, Southwestern Power Administration Administrator Mike Welch, and Southeastern Power Administration Administrator and CEO Virgil Hobbs. (Photo/Western Area Power Administration).
Tracey LeBeau (second from right), Administrator and CEO of the Western Area Power Administration, provided Congressional testimony on WAPA’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget request to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee’s Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee May 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C. LeBeau was joined by (left to right): U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton, Bonneville Power Administration Administrator and CEO John Hairston, Southwestern Power Administration Administrator Mike Welch, and Southeastern Power Administration Administrator and CEO Virgil Hobbs. (Photo/Western Area Power Administration).

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About WAPA: Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 28,000 gigawatt-hours of clean, renewable power from 57 federal hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers and International Boundary and Water Commission in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy. Follow us on Twitter @WesternAreaPowr or visit the website at www.wapa.gov.  ​

Last modified on November 2nd, 2023