Hydropower Licensing Affordability
Current understanding
To be populated as evidence accumulates.
Evidence log
- 2026-08-27 — Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act: cross-connection with hydropower-expansion: Both address legislative efforts to expand hydropower capacity by easing federal barriers; the Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act could complement affordability-focused licensing reforms. (novelty: 2)
- 2026-07-24 — American Whitewater v. FERC: cross-connection with ferc-hydropower-recreation-flows: Judicial review of FERC hydropower licensing decisions (including recreation-flow conditions) intersects with ongoing debates over licensing cost and timeline burdens. (novelty: 2)
- 2026-07-23 — Categorical Exclusion Under the National Environmental Policy Act for Certain Terminations or Revocations of Water Power Licenses or Exemptions: cross-connection with nepa-implementing-procedures: FERC’s expanded NEPA categorical exclusion for hydropower license terminations/revocations reduces environmental review costs at the exit stage, complementing broader efforts to streamline hydropower licensing procedures and costs. (novelty: 2)
- 2026-07-15 — Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025: cross-connection with crow-tribe-water-rights-settlement: The 2025 amendments extend the Crow Tribe’s exclusive right to construct hydropower on Yellowtail Afterbay Dam to 2030, intersecting broader federal hydropower licensing timelines. (novelty: 2)
- 2026-07-15 — A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to issue guidance relating to the review of applications for alteration or temporary or permanent occupation or use of certain hydropower projects, and for other purposes.: cross-connection with hydropower-project-alteration-guidance: Both address federal review processes affecting hydropower project development and modification costs/timelines. (novelty: 2)
- 2025-07-15 — To amend Public Law 99–338 with respect to Kaweah Project permits.: cross-connection with kaweah-project-permits: Both address renewal/relicensing pathways for existing hydroelectric projects; Kaweah is a narrow, project-specific analogue to broader hydropower relicensing reform. (novelty: 2)
- 2026-05-27 — Revisions to the Blanket Certificate Program: cross-connection with ferc-blanket-certificate-program: Both are FERC energy-infrastructure licensing tracks (gas pipelines vs. hydropower) where the agency is adjusting authorization procedures to reduce cost and delay for eligible projects. (novelty: 2)