Technical corrections only. The changes between v3 and v4 reflect the bill's procedural progression, indicating it passed the House of Representatives and was subsequently referred to the Senate. There are no substantive policy changes to the text of the bill.
Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
- Committees
- Energy and Natural Resources Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Sep 25, 2026
Bottom line
The bill requires FERC to provide Congress with annual transparency reports on the status of long-pending hydropower licensing and relicensing applications.
What it actually does
This bill amends the Federal Power Act to mandate that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) annually submit a report to Congress. This report must detail the status of all ongoing applications for new, subsequent, and original hydropower licenses where a notice of intent was filed at least three years prior but the license has not yet been issued. The report must include specific information such as application dates, docket numbers, anticipated issuance dates, and actions taken by all involved parties.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill will significantly enhance transparency and accountability within the hydropower licensing process. By providing Congress with detailed, regular updates, it will help identify bottlenecks, pressure agencies to streamline procedures, and ultimately accelerate the approval of critical hydropower projects, contributing to energy infrastructure development and renewable energy goals.
Opponents contend
Critics might contend that while transparency is generally positive, this specific reporting requirement could impose an additional administrative burden on FERC, potentially diverting resources from the actual processing of license applications. They may argue that simply reporting on delays does not address the underlying complexities or inter-agency coordination challenges that cause them, and that existing internal tracking mechanisms are sufficient.
The bill is exceptionally short and clearly written, making it very accessible for any reader to understand its provisions and implications quickly.
Section 2, inserting new Section 37 into the Federal Power Act
Annual Licensing Status Report
This provision mandates that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) must submit an annual report to Congress. This report will detail the status of all ongoing applications for new hydropower licenses, subsequent licenses (relicensing), and original licenses, specifically for projects where a notice of intent to file an application was given at least three years prior to the report's submission, but the license has not yet been issued. The report must include key dates, application status, anticipated issuance dates, and a description of actions taken by all involved parties, disaggregated by license type.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision is crucial for improving transparency and accountability within the hydropower licensing process. By requiring FERC to provide detailed annual updates, Congress can better identify bottlenecks, assess agency performance, and ensure timely processing of applications, which is vital for energy infrastructure development and meeting renewable energy goals.
Critics contend
Critics might contend that while transparency is generally positive, this specific reporting requirement could add an unnecessary administrative burden to FERC, diverting resources from actual licensing work to report generation. They might argue that existing internal tracking mechanisms are sufficient or that the report itself won't solve underlying issues of inter-agency coordination or complex environmental reviews, potentially creating more bureaucracy than solutions.
Tradeoffs
The bill balances the desire for increased governmental transparency and congressional oversight with the potential for increased administrative workload on a regulatory agency. It aims to provide Congress with better tools to monitor a complex process, but the effectiveness hinges on how the information is used and whether it genuinely streamlines the process or merely documents existing delays without resolving them.