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 let the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) further extend the deadline for starting construction on certain hydropower projects. It applies to projects that received a license before March 13, 2020 (the "covered projects"). If a licensee requests an extension and shows good cause, FERC may extend the required start of construction by up to six years beyond the eight-year period currently allowed under the Federal Power Act. The extension could be granted in up to three consecutive two-year steps, and it would begin after the license’s final extension under the Federal Power Act expires and end no later than six years after the latest extension allowed by law. The bill also adds a provision to reinstate licenses that expired after December 31, 2023 but before enactment, making the extension effective from the expiration date. In short, the bill aims to reduce the risk that qualified hydro licenses lapse due to delays (like financing or permitting) by allowing longer, staged extensions to the window to commence construction.