Extension of Time to Commence Construction of Certain Hydropower Projects

Floor Speech

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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1020) to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 1020

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF TIME TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN HYDROPOWER PROJECTS.

(a) Definition of Covered Project.--In this section, the term ``covered project'' means a hydropower project with respect to which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a license before March 13, 2020.

(b) Authorization of Extension.--Notwithstanding section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806), on the request of a licensee of a covered project, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may, after reasonable notice and for good cause shown, extend in accordance with subsection (c) the period during which the licensee is required to commence construction of the covered project for not more than an additional 6 years beyond the 8 years authorized by that section.

(c) Period of Extension.--An extension of time to commence construction of a covered project under subsection (b) shall--

(1) consist of not more than 3 consecutive 2-year periods;

(2) begin on the date on which the final extension of the period for commencement of construction granted to the licensee under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) expires; and

(3) end on the date that is not more than 6 years after the latest date to which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is authorized to extend the period for commencement of construction under that section.

(d) Reinstatement of Expired License.--If the time period required under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) to commence construction of a covered project expires after December 31, 2023, and before the date of enactment of this Act--

(1) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may reinstate the license for the applicable project effective as of the date of expiration of the license; and

(2) the extension authorized under subsection (b) shall take effect on the date of that expiration.

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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. 1020.

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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1020, led by Senator Daines and, in the House of Representatives, by Representative Newhouse.

Hydropower is a critical part of our Nation's energy mix, supplying baseload power to approximately 30 million homes and businesses and accounting for 40 percent of our black start capacity.

S. 1020 authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, to extend construction deadlines for critical hydropower projects licensed before March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains and halted many projects.

Current law requires hydropower projects to commence construction within 10 years of receiving a license. This legislation allows FERC to authorize an additional 6 years for certain projects to ensure fully licensed infrastructure is not permanently halted, depriving Americans of reliable energy.

There are currently 37 projects, across 15 States, that are at risk of losing licenses without the passage of this bill providing additional construction time.

These projects in limbo would provide energy that is imperative to power our communities, win the artificial intelligence race, and lower electricity prices for consumers.

I urge my colleagues to support S. 1020, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse).

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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 1020, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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