Sponsors (10)
The bill helps hydropower developers preserve and resume projects—potentially protecting future clean electricity and reducing administrative burden—while trading off timely local economic benefits, extended environmental uncertainty, and fewer chances for updated public review.
Utilities and hydropower developers can reinstate recently expired licenses and resume projects without a full new licensing process, saving time and administrative costs.
Utilities and project owners can delay construction starts up to an additional six years, reducing sunk costs and increasing the chance projects are completed when conditions improve.
Rural communities and the grid stand to retain future clean electricity capacity if otherwise-abandoned hydropower projects are preserved by the longer deadlines.
Local communities and local governments may have reduced opportunities for updated public input and contemporary environmental review because expired licenses can be reinstated without a new licensing process.
Rural communities and local governments could see local economic benefits such as construction jobs and tax revenue delayed if project buildouts are postponed for up to six years.
Nearby communities and ecosystems may face prolonged uncertainty about environmental impacts due to extended authorization periods.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows FERC to grant up to six additional years (in up to three 2‑year increments) for pre‑March 13, 2020 hydropower licenses to commence construction, and can reinstate recent expirations so the new extension applies.
Official title: To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.
Introduced March 11, 2025 by Daniel Milton Newhouse · Last progress March 11, 2025
Extends the time FERC can allow pre-March 13, 2020 hydropower licensees to begin construction by up to six additional years beyond the current catch‑all extension authority. On a licensee request and for good cause after reasonable notice, FERC may grant up to three consecutive two‑year extension periods that begin when the existing section‑13 extension expires; FERC may also reinstate recently expired commencement deadlines so the new extension window applies from the expired date.