6 versions

CosmeticWhat changed in ENROLLED BILLcompared with REFERRED IN SENATE (Jul 15, 2025)

Technical corrections only. The differences between v4 and v5 are limited to minor formatting, indentation, and updates to the legislative status information, reflecting the bill's progression from being referred in the Senate to an enrolled bill. There are no substantive policy changes in the text of the bill itself.

H.R. 3657119th CongressIntroduced May 29, 2025

Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act

Became Public LawEnergySubstantive

View bill text

Sponsor: Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
Committees: Energy and Natural Resources Committee (primary)
Last action: Sep 25, 2026

This analysis was written for v4 (REFERRED IN SENATE, Jul 15, 2025). ENROLLED BILL changed too little to need its own, so it reuses that one rather than a rewrite. The differences between the two are summarized above. View v4

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

prominently featuredstraightforward

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.

GroupImpactMechanismScale

GroupFederal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)ImpactIncreased administrative burden due to new annual reporting requirements.MechanismStatutory mandate to compile and submit detailed reports to Congress.ScaleOngoing, annual impact on agency resources.

GroupCongressImpactEnhanced oversight capability and access to detailed, standardized information regarding hydropower licensing processes.MechanismReceipt of mandated annual reports from FERC.ScaleOngoing, annual benefit to legislative oversight functions.

GroupHydropower project developers (licensees, applicants)ImpactIncreased transparency in the licensing process, potentially leading to greater accountability from FERC and other agencies involved in approvals.MechanismPublic reporting of licensing status and actions taken by various parties.ScaleIndirect, but potentially significant for project planning and advocacy.

GroupFish and wildlife agencies and other federal/state agencies involved in licensingImpactActions and requirements imposed by these agencies will be publicly documented in FERC's report, potentially increasing accountability for their role in the licensing timeline.MechanismDescription of ongoing or completed actions required of these agencies within the FERC report.ScaleIndirect, could influence inter-agency coordination and efficiency.

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.

About this analysis. AI-Generated from the official bill text and available committee reports. Gaps in available data are noted explicitly. Verify important details with the official Congress.gov record.