U.S. Senate of the Uncommon Dialogue Hydropower Licensing Reform Package developed by Working Group 6 – the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act
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On Monday, May 10, Conservation organizations, hydropower industry groups, and tribes applauded the bipartisan introduction of the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act to improve hydropower licensing, relicensing, and license surrender processes; additionally, the bill would strengthen environmental stewardship at the nation’s hydropower projects and expand principles of Tribal sovereignty in hydropower licensing. The bill, led by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (MT) and Maria Cantwell (WA), proposes amendments to the Federal Power Act to enhance cooperation, improve clarity, restore autonomy and self-determination to tribes, and retain states’ decision-making authority. In doing so, the bill would help address climate change, better protect the health of the nation’s rivers, expedite licensing of qualifying projects at non-powered dams and closed-loop pumped storage, ensure that mandatory license conditions submitted under sections 4(e) and 18 of the Federal Power Act address effects of the licensed project and provide some tribes long-sought authority over their lands and waters.
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