Stalled Hydropower Projects Get a Decade-Plus Lifeline From Congress

What it does

This bill requires FERC to allow hydropower project licensees whose licenses were issued before March 13, 2020 to request up to 6 additional years (in three 2-year increments) beyond the existing 8-year window to begin construction. It also allows FERC to reinstate licenses that expired after December 31, 2023, effectively giving stalled hydropower projects a second chance to move forward.

Why we flagged it

The bill's sole function is to extend the statutory construction-commencement deadline for a defined class of hydropower licensees and to allow reinstatement of recently expired licenses, making it a targeted regulatory relief measure for project developers.

What the text implies

• The license reinstatement provision (subsection d) retroactively revives licenses that already expired after December 31, 2023, potentially affecting environmental review obligations or third-party reliance interests that arose during the lapse period.
• By allowing up to 6 additional years on top of the existing 8-year window, some projects could hold FERC licenses for up to 14+ years before breaking ground, potentially locking up river resources or delaying competing uses without active development.
• The 'good cause shown' standard for extensions is not defined in the bill, leaving FERC broad discretion and creating uncertainty about which projects will qualify and on what terms.
• Projects licensed before March 13, 2020 may have undergone environmental review under older standards; extended timelines could allow construction to begin under conditions that have materially changed since the original review.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill supports development of renewable hydropower, which can benefit the public through cleaner energy and grid reliability, but it primarily relieves private licensees of construction deadlines without guaranteeing projects will actually be built or that public benefits (like environmental review compliance) will be maintained.

Who stands to gain

• hydropower project developers and licensees
• energy infrastructure investors
• construction and engineering firms serving the hydropower sector

Named in the bill

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Federal Power Act Section 13, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Where it stands

7 cosponsors: 6 Republicans, 1 Democrats.

• Mar 13, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Mar 13, 2025 — Referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources”
• Jul 29, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent”
• Jul 29, 2025 — Passed the Senate · Congress.gov: “Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4797-4798; text: CR S4797-4798)”
• Apr 21, 2026 — Passed both chambers · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 394 - 14…”
• Apr 21, 2026 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mrs. Harshbarger moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill”
• Apr 30, 2026 — Sent to president · Congress.gov: “Presented to President”
• May 11, 2026 — Signed into law · Congress.gov: “Became Public Law No: 119-90”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

6 lobbying clients named this bill on 10 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $970,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 13 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 82% of bills with at least one filing.

Steve Daines, the sponsor, reported $901,144 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Corporate Energy Buyers Association — $590,000 on 3 filings
• National Hydropower Association — $220,000 on 2 filings
• Old Harbor Native Corporation — $80,000 on 2 filings
• Northwest Public Power Association (nwppa) — $40,000 on 1 filing
• Agilitas Energy Inc. — $20,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.