The US House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved the Build More Hydro Bill (H.R. 2072), sending the legislation to the full House for consideration. The bill is intended to prevent project cancellations linked to pandemic-era delays and supply chain disruptions.
H.R. 2072 authorises the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend construction start deadlines for certain hydropower projects licensed before March 13, 2020. Under the Build More Hydro Bill, developers could receive up to three additional two-year extensions beyond the current eight-year construction window, allowing for a total extension of up to six years.
According to the National Hydropower Association (NHA), the legislation would affect roughly three dozen projects. Without deadline extensions, the association estimates that up to 2.6GW of hydropower capacity could be at risk of cancellation, potentially leading to lost investment and reduced grid reliability.
Following the committee vote, NHA President and CEO Malcolm Woolf said the measure is critical to maintaining project viability and meeting electricity demand. He credited bipartisan leadership, including bill sponsor Representative Dan Newhouse, as well as committee leadership for advancing the legislation.
The bill has already passed the US Senate and now awaits action by the full House. If enacted, it would also allow FERC to reinstate licenses that expired after December 31, 2023, and before the bill becomes law, applying the new extension framework retroactively in those cases.
Industry groups say the legislation could help stabilise the hydropower development pipeline at a time when utilities and grid operators are seeking additional firm, dispatchable renewable generation.
“I urge the House to follow the Senate’s lead and pass it as soon as possible,” said Woolf. “It’s long past time to make it law.”
