U.S. Senators Introduce Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act to Streamline Federal Power Act Reforms
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) have introduced the Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act in the Senate. This bill aims to reform the Federal Power Act (FPA) to reduce delays and costs associated with hydropower licensing. Specifically, the proposed legislation seeks to limit Section 4(e) and Section 18 mandatory conditioning of hydropower licenses to only those conditions directly related to the "direct adverse effects" of a project. Currently, natural resource agencies can impose mandatory conditions that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) cannot reject, regardless of cost or direct relevance. The senators argue that the current relicensing process is "burdensome, lengthy, and expensive," with 40% of U.S. hydropower facilities facing relicensing by 2030. They also contend that permitting delays and litigation threats are making new hydropower generation uneconomical. In addition to the bill, the senators have written to FERC, the Depa...
