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Congress·Passed Senate·7 months ago

Hydropower Construction: Deadline Extensions for New Projects

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
✓ Review
✓ Senate
House
President

Key Points

  • This bill allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to give hydropower companies more time to start building their projects. Usually, these companies have a strict deadline to begin construction, but this change lets them ask for extra time if they can show a good reason for the delay.
  • The extension applies to hydropower projects that received their federal licenses before March 13, 2020. These projects can now receive up to six additional years to start construction, which is added on top of the eight years already allowed by current law.
  • If a project's license expired after December 31, 2023, because they could not start building in time, the government can now restart that license. This ensures that projects that were close to starting do not have to go through the entire multi-year licensing process all over again.
  • This policy helps protect investments in renewable energy. Building large water-power facilities is complicated and often faces unexpected delays; this extra time helps ensure these clean energy sources eventually make it onto the power grid to provide electricity for homes and businesses.

Milestones

4 milestones8 actions
Aug 1, 2025House

Held at the desk.

Aug 1, 2025House

Received in the House.

Aug 1, 2025Senate

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Jul 29, 2025Senate

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4797-4798; text: CR S4797-4798)

Jul 29, 2025

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4797-4798; text: CR S4797-4798)

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

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.

Bill NumberS 1020
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionHeld at the desk.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(7)
D: 1R: 6

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.