S-1020 — 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 became law on 2026-05-11 as Public Law No. 119-90.

The summary below describes the bill at the version we last reviewed; the enacted text may differ.

YourVoice.Now Summary

Corporate BenefitsEnvironment

Hydropower firms can now get six more years to start building — and lapsed licenses can come back.

Corporate Benefits

Time for hydropower firms to build — up to six extra years

Federal law gives these projects eight years to break ground. Federal energy regulators can now grant up to six more years, in three two-year steps, if the company asks and shows good reason.

Expired hydropower licenses can be revived — if they ran out after 2023

Some firms already ran past the deadline and lost their license. If that happened after the end of 2023, the agency can give the license back, dated to the day it ended.

Environment

Older river-dam projects stay approved longer — licensed before March 13, 2020

A dam project keeps the approval it won years ago instead of losing it. Only projects licensed before March 13, 2020 qualify.

More about this bill

Most people see no change in daily life. The change is a deadline rule for companies that build hydropower dams under a federal license. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenses these dams. A company has eight years to start building after it gets a license. The agency can now grant up to six more years, in three two-year steps. The company has to ask and show a good reason. The agency chooses whether to say yes. Only projects licensed before March 13, 2020 qualify. Some licenses already ran out. If one lapsed after December 31, 2023, the agency can bring it back, dated to the day it lapsed.

Congressional Summary

This act authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend construction deadlines for hydropower projects that were issued a license before March 13, 2020. FERC is authorized, upon the request of the licensees, to extend the deadline for beginning construction on such projects an additional six years beyond the eight-year extension FERC is authorized to provide under current law. The extension must consist of no more than three consecutive two-year periods. The act also provides that FERC may reinstate certain expired licenses for projects with construction deadlines extended under this act, effective as of the date they expire.

Legislative Subjects

Alternative and renewable resourcesDams and canalsElectric power generation and transmissionInfrastructure developmentLicensing and registrations

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber: Senate
Status: summarized
Action: Public Law
Action Date: 2026-05-11
Date Added: 2026-04-16
Source: Congress.gov →

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