Extension for Hydropower Project Construction Deadlines
March 13, 2025
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Where This Stands
Current status: signed.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →The Frame
This law changes the legal deadlines for specific energy infrastructure projects, potentially allowing developers to keep their licenses active for up to six years longer than previously permitted.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Hydropower project developers
They may request extensions to their construction commencement deadlines for projects licensed before March 13, 2020.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The agency is tasked with reviewing extension requests and has the authority to reinstate certain expired licenses.
Current stage: signed.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- FERC is authorized to extend the construction commencement deadline for 'covered projects' by up to 6 years.
- A 'covered project' is defined as a hydropower project licensed by FERC before March 13, 2020.
- Extensions are limited to three consecutive 2-year periods.
- Extensions are granted at the request of the licensee, provided there is 'good cause' and 'reasonable notice'.
- The law allows for the reinstatement of licenses that expired between December 31, 2023, and May 11, 2026.
- This law overrides the standard 8-year construction commencement limit set in Section 13 of the Federal Power Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to all hydropower projects?
How much extra time can a developer get?
What happens if a license expired recently?
Why It Matters
This law changes the legal deadlines for specific energy infrastructure projects, potentially allowing developers to keep their licenses active for up to six years longer than previously permitted.
News Coverage
Voting Record
Total
401
Yes
387
No
14
Present
0
Not Voting
0
Abstain
0
How they voted (401)
Stephen Lynch
D · yes
James McGovern
D · yes
Robert Menendez
D · yes
Robert Scott
D · yes
Brad Knott
R · yes
Ann Wagner
R · yes
Mike Levin
D · yes
Morgan McGarvey
D · yes
Sarah McBride
D · yes
Joseph Morelle
D · yes
John Carter
R · yes
Rosa DeLauro
D · yes
Nikema Williams
D · yes
Andrew Ogles
R · yes
Sarah Elfreth
D · yes
Richard Hudson
R · yes
Maxine Waters
D · yes
Lloyd Doggett
D · yes
Troy Carter
D · yes
Rashida Tlaib
D · yes
Jamie Raskin
D · yes
Jim Jordan
R · yes
James Clyburn
D · yes
Cleo Fields
D · yes
+ 377 more
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Retroactive License Reinstatement
The law includes a specific provision to retroactively reinstate licenses that expired as far back as December 31, 2023, indicating a legislative intent to preserve projects that stalled during the post-2020 period.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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