Eli Crane Introduces Bill Ending Federal Ownership of San Carlos Irrigation Project

Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) has introduced a bill ending federal ownership of the San Carlos Irrigation Project (SCIP).

The Context

As Rep. Crane's press release explains, the SCIP began in 1924 to irrigate land on the Gila River Indian Reservation and was later equipped to provide hydroelectric power at Coolidge Dam, but low river flows and a 1983 flood have severely crippled its ability to meet the needs of residents in its 2,400-square-mile range.

To keep up with demand, SCIP relies on short-term arrangements to supply power on ancient systems, with federal ownership making it difficult to secure long-term deals and upgrade the tech.

Congress sought to remedy this in 1991 with a bill authorizing divestiture, but it never materialized by the 1992 deadline.

What Crane's Bill Does

As a result, Rep. Crane's San Carlos Irrigation Project Divestiture Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to transfer ownership of the SCIP's electric transmission and distribution system in accordance with a plan developed with federal, state, Tribal, local, and private stakeholders.

Additionally, the bill waives the reversion clause of the 1991 bill, preventing government ownership of the system from blocking the new process, and preserves the Interior Department's existing SCIP responsibilities under the Arizona Water Settlements Act while also allowing the Department to contract with Tribes, or other mutually agreed-upon entities, to sell, operate, or maintain BIA-run electric systems, subject to congressional review.

What Crane is Saying

"For decades, career politicians on both sides of the aisle have let this issue linger, and residents have paid the price through routine outages and rising bills," the Arizona congressman said in his press release, adding, "I'm not willing to continue that pattern by waiting for someone else to take action."

Crane further emphasized that the San Carlos Irrigation Project Divestiture Act "would shift the system to operators who are better equipped to invest in it and serve its customers."

"While it won't fix everything overnight, it's a critical step toward delivering the dependable electricity these communities need. I'm hopeful this bill helps build momentum and encourages local leaders to work together on a long-term solution that finally puts an end to a flawed arrangement," Crane concluded.