Skip to main content
EnglishEspañol

All bills

FERC gains power to extend deadlines for licensed hydropower projects

Signed into lawS. 1020Latest action

Sponsor: Steve Daines · Senator · MT

AIDecoded by AI · checked against the record
Read the official text

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.

119th Congress

Topics: Environment & energy

Introduced:

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

In plain words

The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.

Hydropower companies licensed before March 13, 2020 can now get up to 6 extra years to start construction.

40-second read · 4 questions answered below

What does this do?

This law lets FERC grant hydropower companies up to 6 additional years, in three 2-year extensions, beyond the standard 8-year construction start deadline, for projects licensed before March 13, 2020. Companies must request the extension and show good cause. FERC can also reinstate licenses that expired between late 2023 and the law's signing, then apply the new extension.

Who does it affect?

Hydropower project developers with FERC licenses issued before March 13, 2020 are directly affected, along with nearby communities, environmental groups, and electric utilities tied to these projects.

Why does it matter?

The change affects how quickly hydropower projects move forward, potentially slowing the timeline for construction to begin while preserving companies' federal licenses. It does not create new projects or approve new sites.

AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

No call to make

This is law.

Where does it stand?

  1. IntroducedMar 13, 2025
  2. Senate committee
  3. Senate vote
  4. House
  5. The president's desk

Right now: the president signed it. It's law.Now law

Latest action: — Became Public Law No: 119-90.

Data as of October 10, 2026

Recorded votes

Roll-call votes recorded since January 3, 2025.

  1. House · · Roll call 129

    As recorded

    Question
    On Motion to and Pass
    Result:
    Passed
    394
    Nay
    14
    0
    22

    Republicans 186 yes, 14 no, 16 not voting · Democrats 207 yes, 6 not voting · Independent 1 yes

    Official record
    How members voted

    The official record lists how each member voted.Official record

Share this bill

Share on WhatsApp