Bipartisan Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act Passes Senate, Heads to President Trump's Desk
The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act (H.R.3657/S. 3500), a bipartisan piece of legislation, has unanimously passed the U.S. Senate and is now awaiting President Trump's signature to become law. This bill, led by Representatives Kim Schrier (D, WA-08) and Russ Fulcher (R, ID-01) in the House, and Senators Daines (R-MT) and Cortez Masto (D-NV) in the Senate, aims to increase transparency in the hydropower relicensing process. The legislation mandates that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) submit an annual report to Congress detailing the status of relicensing for every facility undergoing the process. This initiative seeks to address the current system, which often takes over a decade and incurs significant costs, thereby posing a threat to the continued operation of hydropower facilities. The National Hydropower Association (NHA) has applauded the Senate's passage, emphasizing the importance of hydropower for meeting energy demands and ensuring reliable power.
