Legislation extending construction timelines for licensed hydropower schemes moves to the President’s desk, safeguarding 2.6GW of capacity and billions in private investment.
The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved the Build More Hydro bill (S.1020), marking a significant legislative step aimed at reviving dozens of stalled hydropower projects across the country. Having already passed the Senate, the bill now awaits the signature of President Donald Trump to become law.
The measure, led in the House by Dan Newhouse and in the Senate by Steve Daines alongside John Fetterman, passed with a decisive 394-14 vote. It is designed to address pandemic-era disruptions, supply chain constraints and permitting delays that have left a tranche of licensed hydropower developments in limbo.
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At its core, S.1020 provides targeted regulatory relief by authorising the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the statutory deadline for commencing construction on certain licensed projects. Specifically, it allows for extensions of up to six additional years – granted in three consecutive two-year increments – for projects licensed prior to March 2020. The legislation also enables the reinstatement of licences that expired after December 2023 but before enactment, effectively restoring viability to projects that would otherwise have lapsed.
Industry stakeholders estimate that the bill will safeguard approximately 2.6GW of prospective hydropower capacity and protect around $6.5bn in private investment. Nearly 40 projects stand to benefit, many of which had faced imminent deadline expirations under existing Federal Power Act provisions.
Speaking following the House vote, Newhouse framed the legislation as a pragmatic intervention to support baseload generation and grid resilience. “Once signed into law, this legislation will allow for the construction of nearly 40 projects totalling over 2.5GW of baseload power, improving grid reliability and lowering energy prices,” he said.
Daines highlighted the bipartisan nature of the effort and its role in reinforcing domestic energy security. “This bill helps ensure critical projects can move forward, protects billions in investment and strengthens America’s energy security,” he noted.
The National Hydropower Association and a broad coalition of regional and national stakeholders – including utilities, port authorities and agricultural groups – have backed the measure, underscoring hydropower’s continued strategic importance.
While the passage of S.1020 is being welcomed as a near-term fix, industry participants acknowledge that structural challenges remain. Lengthy permitting timelines and regulatory complexity continue to constrain new development, prompting calls for more comprehensive reform to accelerate project delivery and integration into the grid.
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