A bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.
Sponsored By: Senator Steve Daines
Passed Senate
Summary
Gives hydropower licensees more time to start construction by letting FERC extend pre-2020 licenses up to six additional years. The bill applies to projects with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenses issued before March 13, 2020 and creates a stepwise extension process to avoid premature license termination.
Show full summary
- Licensees and developers can ask FERC for up to a 6-year extension to the period for commencing construction, granted as up to three consecutive two-year periods.
- Hydropower projects that risk losing their licenses get a clearer path to continued development or completion instead of automatic termination.
- FERC gains discretion to reinstate licenses that expired after December 31, 2023 and before enactment and to make the new extension timeline effective as of the license expiration date.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More time for pre-2020 hydropower licenses
If enacted, hydropower licensees with licenses issued before March 13, 2020 could ask FERC for more time to start building. FERC could add up to 6 extra years beyond the current 8-year window, in up to three back-to-back 2-year steps. FERC would act after reasonable notice and a good-cause showing. The extra time would start when the last section 13 extension ends and could not go past 6 years beyond that latest allowed date. If a covered license expired after December 31, 2023 but before enactment, FERC could reinstate it as of the expiration date and start the extension then.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Steve Daines
MT • R
Cosponsors
Bill Cassidy
LA • R
Sponsored 3/13/2025
John Kennedy
LA • R
Sponsored 3/13/2025
Lisa Murkowski
AK • R
Sponsored 3/13/2025
Tim Sheehy
MT • R
Sponsored 3/13/2025
Dan Sullivan
AK • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
David McCormick
PA • R
Sponsored 7/31/2025
John Fetterman
PA • D
Sponsored 3/13/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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