North Dakota senators reintroduce rate-lowering bill for irrigators

U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, and John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, along with Congressman Kelly Armstrong R-North Dakota, introduced a bill to amend the Dakota Water Resources Act.

The bill, S.461, would allow more North Dakota irrigators to obtain project use power rates through the Bureau of Reclamation.

“When the Dakota Water Resources Act passed over 20 years ago, it provided North Dakota irrigators a pathway for lower rates, but these benefits have not been realized,” says Cramer. “Our bill corrects a fundamental error so our state’s irrigators can access the cost-effective rates they were promised in exchange for allowing the government to flood prime North Dakota farmland. It’s time to fix this.”

The Dakota Water Resources Act was enacted in 2000 to help meet the water needs of North Dakota. The Bureau of Reclamation’s interpretation of the bill has prevented irrigators in the state from receiving project use power rates despite the fact existing irrigation areas are financially feasible, according to Cramer.

“The Missouri River is North Dakota’s greatest water resource,” says Steve Hansen, chairman of the North Dakota Irrigation Association. “Across the state, North Dakota is diligently working to put Missouri River water to use for the benefit of citizens across the state. This bill will fulfill the federal government’s longstanding promise to provide affordable energy to power irrigation along the Missouri River. Providing this benefit will help put more of this important resource to use to support strong agriculture and vibrant rural communities in North Dakota.”

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