Hydropower industry rallies in DC to fix decades-old licensing delays
Hundreds of hydropower advocates will gather in Washington this week for the largest lobbying event in the National Hydropower Association's (NHA) history. Around 400 industry representatives plan to push Congress for changes to how hydropower projects are approved and relicensed. Many of these projects now face delays as their decades-old permits expire.
The event, led by Matthew Allen, NHA's director of regulatory affairs, aims to address long-standing permitting issues. A major concern is the backlog of relicensing applications, with up to 40 percent of non-federal hydropower plants operating on expired or soon-to-expire licences. These delays slow upgrades and maintenance, creating uncertainty for operators.
Regulatory hurdles have grown worse as the U.S. hydropower fleet ages. Many plants were built decades ago, and their original licences were never designed to last this long. Without reforms, industry leaders warn that critical projects could stall, affecting energy production and grid reliability. Participants will meet with lawmakers on Wednesday to urge faster, more predictable approvals. The NHA argues that streamlining the process would help modernise infrastructure while maintaining environmental safeguards.
The outcome of this lobbying effort could shape how hydropower projects are managed in the coming years. If successful, the proposed reforms may reduce delays for relicensing and upgrades. This would impact hundreds of plants currently operating beyond their original licence terms.
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