Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced
Summary
30% investment tax credit for hydropower improvement property. This bill would create a new credit to fund upgrades at qualified dams to increase clean hydropower, improve grid resilience, and restore fish and river habitat.
Show full summary
- Hydropower owners and developers would be eligible for a 30% credit for hydropower improvement property, covering upgrades like turbines, safety repairs, interconnection work, and certain progress expenses claimed before the property is placed in service.
- Off-grid and small dam communities could benefit because the bill covers approved remote dams licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission before December 31, 2020 that have a maximum net output of 20 megawatts.
- Projects that add or improve fish passage, enhance water quality, promote downstream sediment transport, remove obsolete river obstructions, or expand public access qualify, and tax-exempt and governmental entities can elect the credit as a payment while the credit may also be transferred or sold to raise cash.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New 30% hydropower tax credit
If enacted, you would be able to claim a new tax credit equal to 30% of the cost (basis) of qualifying hydropower improvements. The credit would apply only to property placed in service after Dec. 31, 2025. Qualifying work would include fish passage, water‑quality measures, sediment and habitat projects, safety upgrades to meet federal dam rules, public access improvements tied to a FERC license or settlement, removal of obsolete river obstructions, approved remote dams, and related interconnection equipment. For any such project, you would need written approval from FERC or the appropriate State or local officials before Jan. 1, 2035. An "approved remote dam" would have to be FERC‑licensed before Dec. 31, 2020, serve communities not connected to ERCOT or the Eastern or Western interconnections, not add air pollution, and have a maximum net output of 20 megawatts or less.
Option to get cash for credit
If enacted, taxpayers who place qualifying hydropower property in service after Dec. 31, 2025 could elect to treat the new credit like a direct payment for that taxable year. Some entity types would be excluded from making this election under existing 6417 rules. The bill would also let owners transfer the credit and makes conforming tax changes so the hydropower credit fits existing rules for basis, transfers, and credit administration.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
AK • R
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Angus King
ME • I
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
ME • R
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Gary Peters
MI • D
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Dan Sullivan
AK • R
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Deb Fischer
NE • R
Sponsored 4/2/2025
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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