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119-hr-7487119th CongressWALLET

Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act

Sponsored By: Representative Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]

In Committee

Summary

Expands non‑Federal hydropower development across Bureau of Reclamation facilities. This bill would broaden which Reclamation works can host hydropower, retitle and standardize facility types, and set clearer rules for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorizations and operation and maintenance transfers.

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  • Municipalities and local utilities: The bill unifies rules for furnishing water, selling electric power, and leasing power privileges, making it easier for local partners to attach power projects to Reclamation facilities.
  • Non‑Federal developers and operators: It opens hydropower to "all Bureau of Reclamation facilities" instead of only small conduits or pumped storage. It defines "transferred works facility" and "reserved works facility" so non‑Federal entities can operate and maintain facilities under formal contracts.
  • Reclamation and regulators: The bill says FERC authorizations remain active until inactive and can be renewed. When an authorization becomes inactive, site jurisdiction shifts back to the Bureau of Reclamation. It also changes language so hydropower is "secondary to" other water uses rather than merely "incidental to."

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Hydropower permit and boundary rules

If enacted, the bill would treat Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approvals in this section as formal "authorizations." Authorizations would remain in place until they become inactive and could be renewed under FERC rules. When an authorization becomes inactive, the Bureau of Reclamation would regain exclusive jurisdiction over the project site. The bill would also make clear that lease-of-power-privilege authority does not extend beyond an existing project boundary.

More hydropower on Reclamation facilities

If enacted, developers and local utilities would be able to propose hydropower projects on all Bureau of Reclamation facilities, not just small conduits and reservoirs. The bill would add clear definitions for facilities Reclamation keeps versus those transferred to non‑Federal operators. Hydropower would be treated as secondary to other water uses rather than merely incidental. These changes would take effect on the date of enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]

CO • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/11/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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