Bill > S1236

This bill, the Hydropower Improvement Act of 2015, aims to streamline and improve the process for licensing and developing hydropower projects in the United States, recognizing hydropower as a significant source of renewable energy that provides numerous benefits, including reducing carbon emissions and ensuring grid reliability. Key provisions include modifying the definition of renewable energy to explicitly include hydropower, making it easier to obtain licenses for construction by clarifying conditions related to reservation lands and removing outdated requirements, and extending the timeframes for preliminary permits and construction of project works to allow for more thorough development. The bill also introduces improvements to the licensing process by requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to conduct studies on best practices, compile accessible data, and avoid duplicating studies, while also allowing for informal meetings with Commission staff to discuss technical or procedural matters. Furthermore, it establishes FERC as the lead agency for coordinating all federal authorizations for hydropower projects, sets a goal of issuing all necessary federal authorizations within three years of an application being deemed complete, and mandates the creation of consolidated records of license proceedings. A significant change involves the introduction of a trial-type hearing process for disputed issues of material fact related to certain conditions or prescriptions for hydropower projects, ensuring a more thorough review and providing applicants with a defined process for challenging these measures, with the burden of proof resting on the party advocating for the measure. Finally, the bill mandates annual reports from both FERC and resource agencies to Congress detailing the status of hydropower projects, their benefits, and any potential losses, promoting transparency and accountability in the hydropower development process.