A bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.

This bill would authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to grant additional time for licensees to begin construction on hydropower projects licensed before March 13, 2020. Upon request, FERC could extend these construction deadlines by up to six years beyond the eight-year extension currently allowed by law, provided in three consecutive two-year increments. Additionally, the bill would allow FERC to reinstate certain expired licenses for projects eligible for these extensions, effective as of their original expiration dates.

This bill affects the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by authorizing the agency to grant construction deadline extensions and reinstate expired licenses for specific hydropower projects. It also impacts hydropower project licensees who were issued licenses before March 13, 2020, allowing them to request additional time to commence construction. These licensees may receive up to six additional years beyond existing statutory extensions to begin their projects.

• Extension of hydropower construction deadlines. Authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend the deadline for commencing construction on hydropower projects licensed before March 13, 2020.
• Additional extension periods. Allows FERC to grant up to six additional years for construction to begin, beyond the eight-year extension permitted under current law. This extension must be issued in up to three consecutive two-year increments upon the request of the licensee.
• Reinstatement of expired licenses. Permits FERC to reinstate certain expired licenses for projects eligible for the construction deadline extensions provided by this bill.

The bill provides that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may reinstate certain expired licenses for hydropower projects, with such reinstatements becoming effective as of the date the original licenses expired.

This bill modifies existing Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authority by allowing for a six-year extension of hydropower construction deadlines beyond the eight-year extension currently permitted by law. Additionally, it authorizes FERC to reinstate expired licenses for projects eligible for these extensions.

The bill aims to provide additional time for hydropower projects to begin construction by authorizing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to grant multi-year deadline extensions and reinstate expired licenses for eligible projects.