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: Representative Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]
In Committee
Summary
Creates a new extension pathway that lets license holders of older hydropower projects delay when construction must start. The bill would apply to projects with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenses issued before March 13, 2020 and allow extra time beyond the usual 8-year start window if licensees show good cause and give reasonable notice.
Show full summary
- Licensees of covered projects could request up to 6 more years to begin construction, implemented as up to three consecutive 2-year extension periods. This extra time must follow the existing sequence of extension periods and come after any final extension under section 13.
- Licenses whose 8-year commencement period expired after December 31, 2023 but before enactment could be reinstated as of their expiration date, with the authorized extension taking effect from that date.
- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would apply the extensions under the bill while requiring demonstration of good cause and reasonable notice. The bill does not create new funding or new regulatory authorities beyond changing how and when certain start-date extensions apply.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More time for older hydropower licenses
If enacted, this bill would let FERC grant extra time to start construction on hydropower projects that were licensed before March 13, 2020. At a licensee's request, FERC would be able to extend the usual 8-year start period by up to 6 more years. Extensions would be given only after reasonable notice and for good cause, and would consist of up to three consecutive two-year periods that begin when the final existing section 13 extension expires. If a license expired after December 31, 2023 but before enactment, FERC would be able to reinstate that license effective as of the expiration date and the new extension would run from that date. The bill would not provide new funding or other regulatory authorities; it would only change timing and reinstatement rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]
WA • R
Cosponsors
Fulcher
ID • R
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
WA • R
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
LA • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/28/2025
Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
AK • R
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov