H.R. 2072

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2072 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>

Union Calendar No. 408
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2072

[Report No. 119-477]

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

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 11, 2025

Mr. Newhouse (for himself, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Baumgartner, and Mr. 
Fields) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce

February 2, 2026

Additional sponsors: Ms. Letlow, Mr. Deluzio, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, 
Mr. Begich, Mr. Ruiz, and Ms. Schrier

February 2, 2026

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF TIME TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN 
HYDROPOWER PROJECTS.

(a) Definition of Covered Project.--In this section, the term 
``covered project'' means a hydropower project with respect to which 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a license before March 
13, 2020.
(b) Authorization of Extension.--Notwithstanding section 13 of the 
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806), on the request of a licensee of a 
covered project, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may, after 
reasonable notice and for good cause shown, extend in accordance with 
subsection (c) the period during which the licensee is required to 
commence construction of the covered project for not more than an 
additional 6 years beyond the 8 years authorized by that section.
(c) Period of Extension.--An extension of time to commence 
construction of a covered project under subsection (b) shall--
(1) consist of not more than 3 consecutive 2-year periods;
(2) begin on the date on which the final extension of the 
period for commencement of construction granted to the licensee 
under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) 
expires; and
(3) end on the date that is not more than 6 years after the 
latest date to which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
is authorized to extend the period for commencement of 
construction under that section.
(d) Reinstatement of Expired License.--If the time period required 
under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) to commence 
construction of a covered project expires after December 31, 2023, and 
before the date of enactment of this Act--
(1) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may reinstate 
the license for the applicable project effective as of the date 
of expiration of the license; and
(2) the extension authorized under subsection (b) shall 
take effect on the date of that expiration.
Union Calendar No. 408

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 2072

[Report No. 119-477]

_______________________________________________________________________

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.

_______________________________________________________________________

February 2, 2026

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed