Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act

Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act would amend the Federal Power Act to mandate an annual, public-facing status report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to Congress on ongoing hydropower licensing. Specifically, the reports would track the licensing process for new licenses, subsequent licenses for which 14/15 waivers have been invoked (with at least 3 years’ notice from the licensee), and original licenses under section 4(e) for which there is at least a 3-year notice before an application is filed. The initial report would be due within 180 days of enactment, with a new report produced each year thereafter. Each report would include details such as notice dates, docket numbers, whether an application has been filed, anticipated issuance dates, upcoming proceedings, and required actions by various stakeholders (licensees, governmental entities, fish and wildlife agencies, etc.), and the data would be disaggregated by license type. In short, the bill aims to increase congressional and public visibility into hydropower licensing timelines and requirements by creating a structured, annual disclosure of where each licensing case stands, who must act, and when actions are expected to occur. Note on status in the provided text: The document shows the House having passed the measure, while the Senate status indicates introduction and referral to a committee. The label at the top lists “Status: Introduced,” but the text also records House passage. This summary reflects the bill as provided.