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S. 3518119th CongressIn markupLatest action Jun 10, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
The FLOWS Act cuts routine approval requirements for existing hydropower operators and creates a 1-year permit track for micro hydrokinetic projects under 5 MW.
55-second read · 4 questions answered below
The FLOWS Act removes the federal approval requirement for routine maintenance, small repairs, and minor changes at existing licensed hydropower facilities. It also allows operators to make temporary operational adjustments during emergencies such as floods or droughts without prior sign-off from FERC, while keeping FERC's safety oversight in place. A new streamlined licensing path is created for micro hydrokinetic projects of 5 megawatts or less, with FERC required to decide on applications within one year using simplified environmental reviews.
The bill directly affects companies and individuals who operate existing licensed hydropower dams and facilities, as well as developers seeking to build small water-current or tidal energy systems. Communities located near rivers, coastlines, or waterways where micro hydrokinetic projects might be built could also be affected.
FERC must report to Congress within five years on how the new small-project licenses affect the environment, local economies, and electricity costs, creating a mechanism for evaluating real-world outcomes. The faster permitting timeline and reduced review requirements for small projects could change the pace and volume of new water-based energy development.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.