Cortez Masto, Daines Work to Cut Red Tape, Bolster American Hydroelectric Power Production

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase transparency in the hydroelectric power licensing process. The Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to annually report to Congress about the status of the relicensing process for renewed hydropower dam licenses, increasing transparency and efficiency in the regulatory process.

"Hydroelectricity is cheap, clean, and reliable, and we need all the power we can get to respond to America's surging energy demand," said Senator Cortez Masto. "Unfortunately, a burdensome relicensing process is creating unnecessary delays. This bipartisan legislation would require accountability from the federal regulators that have created a yearslong backlog."

"The demand for U.S. energy is expected to grow at least 50 percent over the next 25 years, and we need to support an all-of-the-above energy approach to meet the demand. Hydropower is a major energy source in Montana, but bureaucratic red tape has stalled too many of our hydro projects. I'm glad to work with Senator Cortez Masto on this bipartisan bill to bring more transparency to the relicensing process for hydro projects and increase Made-In-America energy," said Senator Daines.

The FERC regulates 1,600 hydropower projects at over 2,500 dams. These hydroelectric facilities are required to relicense with the FERC every 30 to 50 years. Recently, delays at the FERC have led to the relicensing process taking an average of seven to ten years. According to a Department of Energy report, FERC relicensing activities are expected to more than double in the next ten years. These delays and red tape create uncertainty in the industry and impact applicants looking to open new hydroelectric plants, limiting America's power generation capabilities.

The Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act directs the FERC to report annually to Congress on the status of the relicensing process for each application for a renewed hydropower dam license. Shining a light on the process will streamline the system and promote efficiency. Companion legislation led by Representatives Kim Schrier (D-Wash.-09) and Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho-01) recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill is endorsed by the National Hydropower Association (NHA) and the Nevada Rural Electric Association (NREA).

"It takes longer to relicense an existing hydropower facility than to license a new nuclear plant. It's baffling! The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act will help shine a spotlight on the prohibitively long, costly, and decentralized relicensing process that hinders new development and risks early license surrender of existing clean, affordable, electricity resources. I applaud Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Daines for leading this bill and urge the Senate to pass it with the urgency this challenge deserves," said Malcolm Woolf, NHA President and CEO.

Senator Cortez Masto is a champion of Nevada's clean energy economy, including hydroelectricity. Her bipartisan Help Hoover Dam Act would allow the Bureau of Reclamation to access about $50 million in unused, long-stranded funds for Hoover Dam operations, maintenance, and improvement projects. She has introduced bipartisan legislation to gather information about weaknesses in the electric energy grid and to establish a Critical Minerals Security Alliance.

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