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To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.
H. R. 2072 To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.
Summary
This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the deadline for hydropower project licensees to commence construction for hydropower projects that received their license before March 13, 2020. Under current law, licensees have 8 years to begin construction; this bill allows FERC to grant an additional extension of up to 6 years (in up to three consecutive 2-year periods) beyond that standard period, upon request and a showing of good cause. The extension period begins after any existing extensions of the construction deadline expire and runs for no more than 6 years total. For hydropower projects whose original construction deadline expired between December 31, 2023 and the bill's enactment, FERC may reinstate the license and apply the new extension authority, with the extended deadline taking effect as of the original expiration date.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4] (R-WA)
9 cosponsors
- Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5] (R-WA)
- Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large] (R-AK)
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA)
- Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6] (D-LA)
- Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1] (R-ID)
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA)
- Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5] (R-LA)
- Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA)
- Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8] (D-WA)
Actions (6)
- Feb 2, 2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 408. · house
- Feb 2, 2026 Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-477. · house
- Jan 21, 2026 Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0. · house
- Jan 21, 2026 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Mar 11, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. · house
- Mar 11, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
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Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (2)
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Committee action
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 11, 2025
Mr. Newhouse (for himself, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Baumgartner, and Mr. Fields) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
February 2, 2026
Additional sponsors: Ms. Letlow, Mr. Deluzio, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mr. Begich, Mr. Ruiz, and Ms. Schrier
February 2, 2026
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF TIME TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN HYDROPOWER PROJECTS.
(a) Definition of Covered Project.—In this section, the term “covered project” means a hydropower project with respect to which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a license before March 13, 2020.
(b) Authorization of Extension.—Notwithstanding section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806), on the request of a licensee of a covered project, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may, after reasonable notice and for good cause shown, extend in accordance with subsection (c) the period during which the licensee is required to commence construction of the covered project for not more than an additional 6 years beyond the 8 years authorized by that section.
(c) Period of Extension.—An extension of time to commence construction of a covered project under subsection (b) shall—
(1) consist of not more than 3 consecutive 2-year periods;
(2) begin on the date on which the final extension of the period for commencement of construction granted to the licensee under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) expires; and
(3) end on the date that is not more than 6 years after the latest date to which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is authorized to extend the period for commencement of construction under that section.
(d) Reinstatement of Expired License.—If the time period required under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) to commence construction of a covered project expires after December 31, 2023, and before the date of enactment of this Act—
(1) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may reinstate the license for the applicable project effective as of the date of expiration of the license; and
(2) the extension authorized under subsection (b) shall take effect on the date of that expiration. Union Calendar No. 408
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2072
[Report No. 119-477]
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.
February 2, 2026
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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