S. 1020

[119th Congress Public Law 90]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 140 STAT. 820]]

Public Law 119-90
119th Congress

An Act

To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time 
period during which licensees are required to commence construction of 
certain hydropower projects. <<NOTE: May 11, 2026 - [S. 1020]>> 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: 16 USC 806 
note.>> 
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

[[Page 140 STAT. 821]]

(2) the extension authorized under subsection (b) shall take 
effect on the date of that expiration.

Approved May 11, 2026.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1020 (H.R. 2072):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 119-477 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce) accompanying 
H.R. 2072.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 171 (2025):
July 29, considered and passed 
Senate.
Vol. 172 (2026):
Apr. 21, considered and passed 
House.

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