Daines, Hassan, Goodlander, Miller Introduce Bill to Bolster Made-In-America Hydropower

• July 15, 2026

Standardizes Review Procedures for Hydropower Licenses

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), as well as Representatives Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.-2) and Carol Miller (R-W.V.-01) today introduced bipartisan legislation to standardize the process for hydropower licenses at Army Corps of Engineers dams under Section 408 to ensure a uniform and consistent application and review process across districts.

"Hydropower is an increasingly important source of electricity in the U.S., and provides Montana's second-largest source of electricity generation. As we prepare to meet the expected surge in demand for energy in the coming decades, we need to ensure the licensing process is fair and efficient. I'm proud to work with my bipartisan colleagues to increase Made-In-America hydropower and enact much-needed reforms," said Daines.

"As electricity demand continues to grow, we need to make it easier to bring more affordable, reliable energy online. This bipartisan legislation will help create a more consistent and efficient process for adding hydropower generation at existing dams, support American energy production, and lower costs for families and businesses. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill," said Hassan.

"The people of New Hampshire are paying some of the highest energy costs in the country, and hydropower is at the heart of lowering energy costs and making America the world's clean energy superpower. Our bipartisan bill is simple: it cuts red tape and makes the rules of the road clear so that we can get reliable hydropower solutions built faster and bring prices down. From day one, I have worked across the aisle to cut energy costs, and I will keep leading the fight to build the affordable, reliable, and clean energy future New Hampshire families deserve," said Goodlander.

"I have long advocated for an all-of-the-above approach to energy production. To ensure the United States remains the leading energy producer and we have the ability to meet rising demands, it is essential that our existing infrastructure and federal processes are streamlined and efficient. I am happy to join my colleagues in introducing this common-sense legislation to benefit the Army Corps of Engineers and our hydropower industry," said Miller.

Read the bill text HERE.

Background:

The Section 408 licensing process for Army Corps of Engineers dams can vary from district to district with different standards and timelines for producers. Standardizing the process and timeline will ensure that much-needed generation will be added to existing non-powered dams. According to a recent Army Corps assessment, approximately three gigawatts of power could be produced at existing Army Corps non-powered dams.

Statement of Support:

"Thank you Senators Daines and Hassan for this legislation that will help create much-needed clarity on an important aspect of permitting hydropower facilities - Clean Water Act reviews. With bipartisan support, this legislation is an important showcase that clean, affordable, and reliable hydropower should be a nonpartisan issue. Hydropower makes up nearly 23 percent of our generation portfolio at NorthWestern Energy, allowing our company to meet customer demand with affordable, reliable, and carbon-free power. Legislation like these will help ensure our hydro assets can remain a significant part of our portfolio for years to come." - Brian Bird, President and Chief Executive Officer, NorthWestern Energy

"Section 408 reform is essential to unlocking more reliable, affordable, American hydropower. For too long, developers seeking to add clean generation to existing U.S. Army Corps infrastructure have faced an unpredictable and duplicative review process that slows projects when we need all the new generation we can get. By bringing greater clarity, consistency, and accountability to Section 408 reviews, this bill will help move responsible hydropower development forward while preserving the Corps' core mission. NHA thanks the bill's sponsors, Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) and Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) for advancing this commonsense fix and recognizing the role existing federal infrastructure can play in meeting America's growing energy needs." - Matthew Allen, Director of Legislative Affairs, National Hydropower Association

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