This bill requires the Secretary of the Army to issue standardized guidance within one year for reviewing applications related to non-Federal hydropower projects that need permission for alteration or use. The guidance must establish a specific checklist of required materials and clear criteria for what constitutes a complete application, developed in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and industry groups. It limits the initial review to verifying that all necessary documents are submitted in the correct format, explicitly prohibiting reviewers from conducting detailed technical analyses or requesting design changes at this stage. Additionally, the bill sets up escalation procedures for cases where review deadlines are not met and prevents officials from imposing new environmental standards that were not established before the application was submitted.
The FLOWS Act updates regulations for hydropower projects by clarifying which changes require Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval and exempting routine maintenance from such requirements. It also establishes a new, streamlined licensing process for small-scale micro hydrokinetic energy projects that generate up to 5 megawatts from moving water without impounding it. Under this new section, applicants would file a notification of intent followed by a formal application, with the Commission required to issue a final decision within one year. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Commission create specific rules to define project alterations and implement categorical exclusions to speed up environmental reviews for these smaller projects.
The Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act amends the Federal Power Act to modify how federal licenses for hydropower projects are issued. Specifically, it requires that license conditions include measures to reasonably mitigate direct adverse effects on federal reservations and fish populations within applicable river systems. These changes aim to ensure that new or existing hydropower projects address environmental impacts on protected lands and aquatic species before a license is granted. The bill directly affects hydropower project developers and federal agencies responsible for licensing and environmental oversight.
This bill strengthens safety standards for dams and hydropower facilities by requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure that licensees can maintain and operate these structures safely. It mandates that new licenses are only issued if a dam meets current safety requirements or includes a specific plan to fix existing non-compliance issues. Additionally, the legislation establishes procedures to evaluate an applicant's financial ability to meet safety standards and requires FERC to hold a technical conference with states to discuss dam maintenance and climate risks. The bill also improves communication between FERC and states by notifying them when repairs are required or when a license is revoked, and by sharing detailed records about the dam's condition and history upon license termination.
HR 2073, the Defending our Dams Act, prohibits federal funding for any study, planning, or technical assistance related to removing or altering the Lower Snake River dams in Washington State. It specifically blocks the use of federal funds for evaluating dam removal alternatives, including replacements for power, flood control, or navigation. The bill also restricts spillage operations at these dams without explicit approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and Bonneville Power Administration, requiring consideration of all Columbia River System operations. The law directly affects federal agencies' ability to fund or plan for changes to the four specific dams: Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite.
HR 1001 requires federal agencies to create a memorandum of understanding (MOU) addressing how a specific 2024 record of decision (related to Glen Canyon Dam operations) might impact the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund. The MOU, developed with the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group, must establish a plan to address three key areas: potential effects on infrastructure costs and operations, impacts on hydropower production and grid reliability, and effects on endangered species. It directly affects the Interior Department, Energy Department, and the fund managing hydropower revenues from Glen Canyon Dam. The bill focuses on assessing and planning for potential financial and operational impacts, not on changing the record of decision itself.
The Working Waterfronts Act of 2025 provides financial support to coastal communities and industries through multiple programs. It creates a tax credit for hydroelectric facilities that improve fish passage and water quality, offers Department of Agriculture loans and grants for fishing and mariculture businesses, and establishes grants to support rural seafood processing infrastructure. The bill also includes a working waterfronts preservation grant program to protect areas used by commercial fishing, mariculture, and boatbuilding industries, and creates a maritime workforce grant program to support training and education. These provisions directly affect commercial fishing businesses, seafood processors, coastal communities, and maritime workers.
S 3500, the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act, requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to submit annual reports to Congress on stalled hydropower licensing processes. The bill directly affects hydropower applicants - including companies, tribes, states, and municipalities - who have notified FERC of intent to apply for a new, subsequent, or original license but haven't received a license within 3 years. Each report must detail specific status updates for each delayed application, including docket numbers, application filing status, anticipated issuance dates, upcoming meetings, and actions taken by involved parties. The reports must break down information by license type (new, subsequent, or original) to provide clear transparency into licensing delays.
Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act This bill establishes a new investment tax credit in the amount of 30% of the basis of any hydropower improvement property. The bill defines hydropower improvement property as property that adds or improves fish passage at a qualified dam; maintains or improves the quality of the water retained or released by a qualified dam; promotes downstream sediment transport and habitat maintenance; upgrades, repairs, or reconstructs a qualified dam to meet safety and security standards; improves public uses of, and access to, public waterways impacted by a qualified dam; removes an obsolete river obstruction; or places into service an approved remote dam. Further, written approval for hydropower improvement property must be obtained from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or state or local officials prior to January 1, 2032. The bill also allows an election to claim the investment tax credit for qualified progress expenses for some types of hydropower improvement property in advance of such property being placed into service. Any investment tax credit amount claimed for qualified progress expenses reduces the amount of the investment tax credit that may be claimed once the hydropower improvement property is placed into service. The bill authorizes certain entities, including tax-exempt and governmental entities, to treat the investment tax credit for hydropower improvement property as a payment of tax and receive a refund of any overpayment (also known as elective pay). Finally, the investment tax credit for hydropower improvement property may be transferred (i.e., sold).
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (S 3293) allocates approximately $13.5 billion in federal funding for energy and water infrastructure programs for fiscal year 2026. The bill provides specific funding for Corps of Engineers civil works projects including flood control, river and harbor maintenance, and aquatic ecosystem restoration, as well as for Department of Energy programs focused on energy efficiency, nuclear energy, and grid infrastructure. It establishes the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program with $5 million allocated to support dam safety projects and levee maintenance for state and local entities. The bill includes detailed provisions governing how funds can be reprogrammed across different programs, with specific limits on reprogramming amounts for various categories. This funding bill directly affects federal agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Energy, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as well as state and local governments that receive federal funding for water infrastructure projects.
