Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]
Introduced
Summary
Would expand non-Federal hydropower development across all Bureau of Reclamation facilities by updating the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to broaden eligible sites and clarify operation and maintenance rules. It would also preserve continuity of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorizations and define how site control reverts when those authorizations lapse.
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- Non‑Federal developers: Would let projects go beyond prior "small conduit" limits and use a wider range of Bureau of Reclamation facilities, creating more opportunities to build hydropower on federal water projects.
- Local operators and utilities: Would create two clear categories, "reserved works facility" and "transferred works facility," so responsibility for operation and maintenance under transfer contracts is spelled out.
- Permits and federal control: Would keep FERC authorizations active until they become inactive and allow renewals as FERC permits. When a FERC authorization becomes inactive the Bureau of Reclamation would resume exclusive jurisdiction over the project site.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More hydropower options for local developers
If enacted, the bill would let non‑Federal developers propose hydropower at more Bureau of Reclamation facilities. It would replace old statutory terms and add definitions for "transferred works facility" and "reserved works facility." A transferred works facility would apply only where a formal operations and maintenance transfer contract is in effect. The bill would say Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorizations stay active until they become inactive and may be renewed as FERC allows. Once an authorization becomes inactive, site control would shift to the Bureau of Reclamation. It would also say nothing in this section expands the Bureau's lease of power authority outside a project's boundary.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]
CO • R
Cosponsors
Gray
CA • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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