The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act (H.R. 3657) passed the U.S. House by voice vote with overwhelming bipartisan support—demonstrating consensus that hydropower deserves a more transparent, efficient federal licensing process.

While this bill is not comprehensive license reform, it’s an important down payment toward modernizing a permitting system that has long been criticized as outdated, duplicative, and opaque.

This legislation would:

• Require FERC to submit an annual report to Congress with the status of ALL pending hydropower licences,
• Promote better coordination across agencies,
• And increase accountability by giving Congress and stakeholders visibility into permitting timelines and delays.

⚠️ Today, it can take a decade or more to license or relicense a hydropower project—far longer than for any other clean energy technology. That means fewer clean electrons on the grid, less investment in American infrastructure, and more uncertainty for communities and developers alike.

✅ Tell the Senate: Support H.R. 3657 and Take the First Step Toward Real Reform

The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act won’t fix every problem—but it will shine a light on where the problems are. It’s a critical first step toward comprehensive reform that ensures hydropower can remain a competitive, reliable, and clean source of energy.

How You Can Take Action:

➡️ Enter your address on the right side of the page—VoterVoice will identify your U.S. Senators.
✉️ Send a message: Use our pre-drafted email or personalize it with your experience navigating the licensing process, and how a more transparent system would help your organization or community.
𝕏 Post your support on X and tag your Senators, as well as @SenateGOP and @SenateDems.

📍 Whether you’re a utility, developer, supplier, or constituent—your voice helps ensure the Senate understands the need for action.

Need Support or Want to Follow Up?

Refer Senate offices to:
📧 Matthew Allen – matthew@hydro.org