Newhouse/Daines 'Build More Hydro' Bill Signed Into Law

Press Release
For Immediate Release: May 12, 2026
Contact: Juan Ayala, (202) 713-7750

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) announced that his "Build More Hydro" bill has been signed into law by President Trump. The bill, S.1020, companion legislation to Newhouse's H.R. 2072, allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve six-year extensions for hydropower projects licensed before 2020.

"Our Nation needs more energy, and I am pleased President Trump has signed into law S.1020, the Senate companion of my "Build More Hydro" bill in the House," said Rep. Newhouse. "This allows hydroelectric dams with their FERC license additional time to commence construction, eventually adding over 2.5 GW of reliable, clean, baseload power. We need to get every available megawatt of power on the grid to meet our growing energy demand, and this new law gets us one step closer to that goal. I thank Senator Daines for his hard work moving this bill unanimously through Senate and for being a champion of hydroelectric dams."

"Today is a great day for Montana and the nation," said Senator Steve Daines (R-MT). "America must meet the rise in energy demand, and the Build More Hydro bill will revive critical hydro projects and increase our domestic energy production. Thank you Senator Fetterman and Representative Newhouse for fighting with me to get this bill to the President's desk. I'm grateful that President Trump and his administration strongly support Made-In-America energy, and I look forward to seeing the impact this will have across the country."

Background

Rep. Newhouse introduced the "Build More Hydro" bill as companion legislation alongside Senator Daines' S. 1020, in 2025.

On July 9, 2025, S.1020 passed the Senate by unanimous consent.

On April 21, 2026, this legislation passed the House with a vote of 394-14.

The Build More Hydro bill would extend commence construction deadlines for critical hydropower projects nationwide and increase American energy production.

Since the introduction of S.1020, approximately 100MW of hydropower has been put on hold with an additional 36MW forced into limbo by the end of the year because of congressional inaction. Hydropower supplies baseload electricity to over 30 million homes, provides 96% of utility-scale energy storage, and remains vital to flood control, water storage, irrigation, and grid reliability services.

The Build More Hydro bill was supported by the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, Northwest River Partners, Inland Ports and Navigation Group, Port of Lewiston, Tri-City Development Council, Northwest Public Power Association, Washington Association of Wheat Growers, The National Association of Wheat Growers, The National Hydropower Association, Rye Development, and The American Public Power Association.

Full bill text can be found here(link is external).