Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), alongside Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Rep. Carol Miller (WV-01), introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation today to slash red tape that is slowing down hydropower permitting at Army Corps of Engineers dams. 

“The people of New Hampshire are paying some of the highest energy costs in the country, and hydropower is at the heart of lowering energy costs and making America the world’s clean energy superpower,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “Our bipartisan bill is simple: it cuts red tape and makes the rules of the road clear so that we can get reliable hydropower solutions built faster and bring prices down. From day one, I have worked across the aisle to cut energy costs, and I will keep leading the fight to build the affordable, reliable, and clean energy future New Hampshire families deserve.”

“Hydropower is an increasingly important source of electricity in the U.S., and provides Montana’s second-largest source of electricity generation. As we prepare to meet the expected surge in demand for energy in the coming decades, we need to ensure the licensing process is fair and efficient. I’m proud to work with my bipartisan colleagues to increase Made-In-America hydropower and enact much-needed reforms,” said Senator Daines.

“As electricity demand continues to grow, we need to make it easier to bring more affordable, reliable energy online,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will help create a more consistent and efficient process for adding hydropower generation at existing dams, support American energy production, and lower costs for families and businesses. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill.”

“I have long advocated for an all-of-the-above approach to energy production. To ensure the United States remains the leading energy producer and we have the ability to meet rising demands, it is essential that our existing infrastructure and federal processes are streamlined and efficient. I am happy to join my colleagues in introducing this common-sense legislation to benefit the Army Corps of Engineers and our hydropower industry,” said Congresswoman Carol Miller.

The bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to establish standardized guidance for the review of Section 408 licenses — a requirement to add hydropower to existing non-powered Army Corps dams. The bill would help cut through unnecessary red tape and eliminate inconsistent licensing processes, so existing dams can be upgraded to produce reliable, low-cost hydropower. At a time when families are getting squeezed by high utility bills, the bill would help unlock affordable, homegrown power and lower costs for consumers.

“Hydropower represents one of the most enduring and practical pathways to strengthening grid reliability and advancing our clean energy goals,” said Bob King, President of the Granite State Hydropower Association. “Reforming WRDA Section 408 is an essential step toward enabling responsible development at existing federally owned dams in New Hampshire and around the country, where new generation could deliver meaningful benefits to local communities without the need for new impoundments. I am greatly appreciative of Representative Maggie Goodlander’s work on this legislation and look forward to working with her to advance the bill.”

“Section 408 reform is essential to unlocking more reliable, affordable, American hydropower,” said NHA’s Senior Director of Legislative Affairs, Matthew Allen. “For too long, developers seeking to add clean generation to existing U.S. Army Corps infrastructure have faced an unpredictable and duplicative review process that slows projects when we need all the new generation we can get. By bringing greater clarity, consistency, and accountability to Section 408 reviews, this bill will help move responsible hydropower development forward while preserving the Corps’ core mission. NHA thanks the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Maggie Goodlander, Sen. Steve Daines, Sen. Maggie Hassan and Rep. Carol Miller for advancing this commonsense fix and recognizing the role existing federal infrastructure can play in meeting America’s growing energy needs.” 

A one-pager on the bill is available here. The full text is here.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: 

Goodlander has made lowering energy and utility costs a central part of her work in Congress:

• Cracking down on runaway utility profiteering: Goodlander helped introduce the Lowering Utility Bills Act, legislation to rein in excessive profits by investor-owned electric utilities, gas utilities, and transmission providers by requiring them to use the lowest return on equity within an established range of reasonableness when setting rates. Goodlander is leading the charge to hold Liberty Utilities accountable after the company refused to serve natural gas customers in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, causing delays and higher costs for new homes in communities already struggling with the housing crisis. She also worked alongside New Hampshire’s Office of the Consumer Advocate to take on Eversource when the utility proposed a 43.4% rate hike, and pressed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to crack down on utilities’ attempts to overcharge customers on their electric bills.

• Lowering energy bills: Goodlander is helping to lead a number of bipartisan bills designed to bring down energy costs, including the bipartisan Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act, to expand support for home energy-efficiency upgrades and help households save money on utility bills while making homes safer and healthier. She has also championed the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a mission-critical program for millions of American families. Goodlander joined the New Hampshire delegation in opposing the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate New Hampshire’s $43.5 million Solar for All grant, which would have supported community energy projects and reduced utility bills for low-income households by 20 percent or more.

• Improving our power grid: Goodlander has championed the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act, bipartisan legislation to support upgrades at existing hydroelectric dams, increase clean energy production, improve electric-grid reliability, and strengthen river health.

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