Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act
Sponsored By: Representative Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a new 30% tax credit to encourage upgrades and environmental improvements at existing hydroelectric dams. It targets projects that boost clean power output, shore up dam safety, and restore river health while allowing flexible tax treatment for owners and partners.
Show full summary
- Owners and operators of hydroelectric facilities can claim a credit equal to 30% of the basis of eligible "hydropower improvement property" placed in service. The credit covers seven project types, including fish passage, water quality work, sediment and habitat measures, safety upgrades, public access improvements, removal of obsolete river obstructions, and approved remote dams.
- Projects must get written approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or appropriate State or local officials before January 1, 2032. The credit applies to property placed in service after December 31, 2022.
- The bill lets taxpayers elect payment or transfer of the credit under the Section 6417 rules, and adds conforming tax-code changes to create Section 48F and update cross references for energy property and interconnection assets.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tax credit for hydropower upgrades
This bill would create a 30% tax credit for the cost of qualifying hydropower improvements placed in service after December 31, 2022. Qualifying work would include fish passage, better water quality, sediment and habitat work, dam‑safety upgrades, public access tied to a FERC license, removing obsolete obstructions, or approved remote dams. Remote dams would need to serve communities off the main ERCOT/Eastern/Western grids, have a FERC license before December 31, 2020, add no air pollution, and be 20 megawatts or less; related interconnection equipment would count. You would need written approval from FERC or state/local officials before January 1, 2032 to claim the credit. Owners could choose a direct cash payment or sell (transfer) the credit under existing sections 6417 and 6418, and the bill would update tax rules to integrate this new credit.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
NE • R
Cosponsors
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
WV • R
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 4/2/2025
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/14/2025
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
KS • R
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
AL • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov