,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ede  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #ac1 #bjac ,ms4   
,murk[ski 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,wyd51 ,mr4   
,ris*1 ,ms4 ,cantwell1 ,mr4 ,crapo1     
,mrs4 ,murray1 & ,mr4 ,begi*7 introduc$ 
! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$
 to ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural   
,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to improve       
hydrop[]1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort  
title2 table ( cont5ts  7a7 ,%ort title 
,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,hydrop[]     
,improvem5t ,act ( #bjac4  7b7 ,table ( 
cont5ts ,! table ( cont5ts ( ?is ,act is
 z foll[s3  ,sec4 #a4 ,%ort title2 table
 ( cont5ts4 ,sec4 #b4 ,f9d+s4 ,sec4 #c4 
,def9itions4 ,sec4 #d4 ,s5se ( ! ,s5ate 
on ! use ( hydrop[] r5ewable res\rces4  
,sec4 #e4 ,promot+ hydrop[] developm5t  
at nonp[]$ dams & clos$ loop pump$      
/orage projects4 ,sec4 #f4 ,promot+     
conduit hydrop[] projects4 ,sec4 #g4    
,promot+ small hydroelectric p[]        
projects4 ,sec4 #h4 ,,f]c au?ority to   
ext5d prelim9>y p]mit t]ms4 ,sec4 #i4   

,/udy ( pump$ /orage & pot5tial hydrop[]
 f conduits4 ,sec4 #aj4 ,report on      
memor&um ( und]/&+ on hydrop[]4  #b4    
,f9d+s ,congress f9ds t--  7#a7 hydrop[]
 is ! l>ge/ s\rce ( clean1 r5ewable     
electricity 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#b7 z (
 ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 hydrop[] 
res\rces1 includ+ pump$ /orage          
facilities1 provide--  7,a7 ne>ly #g    
p]c5t ( ! electricity g5]at$ 9 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates1 avoid+ approximately            
#bjj1jjj1jjj metric tons ( c>bon        
emissions ea* ye>2 &  7,b7 approximately
 #ajj1jjj megawatts ( electric capacity 
9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#c7 only #c p]c5t (
 ! #hj1jjj dams 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates g5]ate
 electricity s !re is sub/antial        
pot5tial = add+ hydrop[] g5]ation to    
nonp[] dams2  7#d7 9 e ,/ate1 a trem5d\s
 untapp$ gr[? pot5tial exi/s 9 hydrop[] 
res\rces1 includ+--  7,a7 effici5cy     
improvem5ts & capacity additions2  7,b7 
add+ g5]ation to nonp[] dams2  7,c7     
conduit hydrop[]2  7,d7 conv5tional     
hydrop[]2  7,e7 pump$ /orage facilities2

 &  7,f7 new m>9e & hydrok9etic         
res\rces2 &  7#e7 improvem5ts 9 increas$
 hydrop[] production 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates h
 ! pot5tial--  7,a7 to increase ! clean 
en]gy g5]ation ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7,b7 
to improve project p]=mance & result 9  
bett] environm5tal outcomes2 &  7,c7 to 
provide ancill>y b5efits t include grid 
reliability1 en]gy /orage1 & integration
 s]vices = v>iable r5ewable res\rces4   
#c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3  7#a7      
,conduit ,! t]m conduit means any       
tunnel1 canal1 pipel9e1 aqu$uct1 flume1 
dit*1 or simil> manmade wat] conveyance 
t is op]at$ = ! di/ribution ( wat] =    
agricultural1 municipal1 or indu/rial   
consumption & n prim>ily = ! g5]ation ( 
electricity4  7#b7 ,secret>y ,! t]m     
,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( ,en]gy4   
7#c7 ,small hydroelectric p[] project ,!
 t]m small hydroelectric p[] project has
 ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #d4cj (   
title #ah1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations4 
#d4 ,s5se ( ! ,s5ate on ! use ( hydrop[]
 r5ewable res\rces ,x is ! s5se ( !     

,s5ate t ! ,unit$ ,/ates %\ld increase  
sub/antially ! capacity & g5]ation (    
clean1 r5ewable hydrop[] :i* w improve !
 environm5tal quality ( res\rces 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates & support local job       
creation & economic inve/m5t across !   
,unit$ ,/ates4  #e4 ,promot+ hydrop[]   
developm5t at nonp[]$ dams & clos$ loop 
pump$ /orage projects  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,to 
improve ! regulatory process & r$uce    
delays & co/s = hydrop[] developm5t at  
nonp[]$ dams & clos$ loop pump$ /orage  
projects1 ! ,f$]al ,en]gy ,regulatory   
,commission 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is section z !
 ,commission7 %all inve/igate !         
feasibility ( ! issuance ( a lic5se =   
c]ta9 hydrop[] developm5t dur+ ! #b-ye> 
p]iod beg9n+ on ! date ( comm5cem5t ( ! 
prefil+ lic5s+ process ( ! ,commission  
7ref]r$ to 9 ?is section z a #b-ye>     
process74  7b7 ,work%ops & pilots ,!    
,commission %all--  7#a7 n lat] ?an #fj 
days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 
hold an initial work%op to solicit      
public comm5t & recomm5dations on h[ to 

implem5t a #b-ye> process2  7#b7 develop
 crit]ia = id5tify+ projects featur+    
hydrop[] developm5t at nonp[]$ dams &   
clos$ loop pump$ /orage projects t may  
be appropriate = lic5s+ )9 a #b-ye>     
process2  7#c7 n lat] ?an #ahj days aft]
 ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 develop &
 implem5t pilot projects to te/ a #b-ye>
 process1 if practicable2 &  7#d7 n lat]
 ?an #c ye>s aft] ! date ( implem5tation
 ( any pilot project to te/ a #b-ye>    
process1 hold a f9al work%op to solicit 
public comm5t on ! effectiv5ess ( !     
pilot project4  7c7 ,memor&um ( und]/&+ 
,! ,commission %all1 to ! maximum ext5t 
practicable1 ent] into a memor&um (     
und]/&+ ) any applicable ,f$]al or ,/ate
 ag5cy to implem5t a pilot project      
describ$ 9 subsection 7b74  7d7 ,reports
  7#a7 ,pilot projects n implem5t$ ,if !
 ,commission det]m9es t ! pilot projects
 describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 are n        
practicable1 n lat] ?an #bdj days aft] !
 date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !          
,commission %all submit to ! ,committee 

on ,en]gy & ,natural ,res\rces ( !      
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,en]gy &       
,comm]ce ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report t--  7,a7 describes ! public     
comm5ts receiv$ z "p ( ! initial work%op
 held "u subsection 7b77#a72 &  7,b7    
id5tifies ! process1 legal1             
environm5tal1 economic1 & o!r issues t  
ju/ify ! det]m9ation ( ! ,commission t a
 #b-ye> process is n practicable1 )     
recomm5dations on h[ ,congress may      
address or rem$y ! id5tifi$ issues4     
7#b7 ,pilot projects implem5t$ ,if !    
,commission develops & implem5ts pilot  
projects involv+ a #b-ye> process       
describ$ 9 subsection 7b71 n lat] ?an   
#fj days aft] ! date ( completion ( any 
f9al work%op held "u subsection 7b77#d71
 ! ,commission %all submit to !         
,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural         
,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on  
,en]gy & ,comm]ce ( ! ,h\se (           
,repres5tatives a report t--  7,a7      
describes ! outcomes ( ! pilot projects2
  7,b7 describes ! public comm5ts f !   

f9al work%op on ! effectiv5ess ( ! pilot
 projects2 &  7,c7 7i7 outl9es h[ !     
,commission w adopt policies "u exi/+   
law 7includ+ regulations7 t result 9 a  
#b-ye> process2  7ii7 outl9es h[ !      
,commission w proce$ ) a rulemak+ to    
adopt a #b-ye> process 9 ! regulations (
 ! ,commission2 or  7iii7 id5tifies !   
process1 legal1 environm5tal1 economic1 
& o!r issues t ju/ify ! det]m9ation ( ! 
,commission t a #b-ye> process is n     
practicable1 ) recomm5dations on h[     
,congress may address or rem$y !        
id5tifi$ issues4  #f4 ,promot+ conduit  
hydrop[] projects  7a7 ,applicability (1
 & exemption f1 lic5s+ requirem5ts      
,section #cj ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act 7#af  
,u4,s4,c4 #hbc;a7 is am5d$--  7#a7 by   
r$esignat+ subsections 7c7 ?r\gh 7e7 z  
subsections 7d7 ?r\gh 7f71 respectively2
  7#b7 by /rik+ ,sec4 #cj4 & all t      
foll[s ?r\gh ! end ( subsection 7b7 &   
ins]t+ ! foll[+3  #cj4 ,conduit hydrop[]
 facilities  7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is     
section3  7#a7 ,conduit ,! t]m conduit  

means any tunnel1 canal1 pipel9e1       
aqu$uct1 flume1 dit*1 or simil> manmade 
wat] conveyance t is op]at$--  7,a7 = ! 
di/ribution ( wat] = agricultural1      
municipal1 or indu/rial consumption2 &  
7,b7 n prim>ily = ! g5]ation (          
electricity4  7#b7 ,qualify+ conduit    
hydrop[] facility ,! t]m qualify+       
conduit hydrop[] facility means a       
facility 7n includ+ any dam or o!r      
imp\ndm5t7 t is det]m9$ or deem$ "u     
subsection 7b77#b77;,d7 to meet !       
qualify+ crit]ia4  7#c7 ,qualify+       
crit]ia ,! t]m qualify+ crit]ia means1 )
 respect to a facility1 t--  7,a7 !     
facility is con/ruct$1 op]at$1 or       
ma9ta9$ = ! g5]ation ( electric p[] &   
uses = ! g5]ation only ! hydroelectric  
pot5tial ( a non-f$]ally own$ conduit2  
7,b7 ! facility has an in/all$ capacity 
t does n exce$ #e megawatts2 &  7,c7 on 
or be=e ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,hydrop[] 
,improvem5t ,act ( #bjac1 ! facility is 
n lic5s$ "u1 or exempt$ f ! lic5se      
requirem5ts conta9$ 91 ?is "p4  7b7     

,adm9i/ration  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a qualify+
 conduit hydrop[] facility %all n be    
requir$ to be lic5s$ "u ?is "p4  7#b7   
,notice ( int5t to con/ruct facility    
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,any p]son1 ,/ate1 or     
municipality propos+ to con/ruct a      
qualify+ conduit hydrop[] facility %all 
file ) ! ,commission a notice ( int5t to
 con/ruct ! qualify+ conduit hydrop[]   
facility4  7,b7 ,in=mation ,! notice    
%all include suffici5t in=mation to     
demon/rate t ! facility meets ! qualify+
 crit]ia4  7,c7 ,initial det]m9ation ,n 
lat] ?an #ae days aft] receipt ( a      
notice ( int5t is fil$ "u subp>agraph   
7,a71 ! ,commission %all--  7i7 make an 
initial det]m9ation z to :e!r ! facility
 meets ! qualify+ crit]ia2 &  7ii7 if ! 
,commission makes an initial            
det]m9ation1 pursuant to clause 7i7 t ! 
facility meets ! qualify+ crit]ia1      
publi% public notice ( ! notice ( int5t 
fil$ "u subp>agraph 7,a74  7,d7 ,f9al   
det]m9ation ,if1 n lat] ?an #de days    
aft] ! date ( publication ( ! public    

notice describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,c77ii7--
  7i7 an entity conte/s :e!r ! facility 
meets ! qualify+ crit]ia1 ! ,commission 
%all promptly issue a writt5 det]m9ation
 z to :e!r ! facility meets ! qualify+  
crit]ia2 or  7ii7 no entity conte/s :e!r
 ! facility meets ! qualify+ crit]ia1 ! 
facility %all be consid]$ to meet !     
qualify+ crit]ia4  7c7 ,exemptions      
,subject to subsection 7d71 !           
,commission may grant an exemption 9    
:ole or 9 "p f ! requirem5ts ( ?is "p1  
includ+ any lic5se requirem5ts conta9$ 9
 ?is "p1 to any facility 7n includ+ any 
dam or o!r imp\ndm5t7 con/ruct$1 op]at$1
 or ma9ta9$ = ! g5]ation ( electric p[] 
t ! ,commission det]m9es1 by rule or    
ord]--  7#a7 uses = ! g5]ation only !   
hydroelectric pot5tial ( a conduit2 &   
7#b7 has an in/all$ capacity t does n   
exce$ #dj megawatts4  2  7#c7 9         
subsection 7d7 7z r$esign$ by p>agraph  
7#a771 by /rik+ subsection 7a7 & ins]t+ 
subsection 7c72 &  7#d7 9 subsection 7e7
 7z s r$esignat$71 by /rik+ subsection  

7a7 & ins]t+ subsection 7c74  7b7       
,con=m+ am5dm5ts  7#a7 ,section         
#baj7;j77#c7 ( ! ,public ,utility       
,regulatory ,policies ,act ( #aigh 7#af 
,u4,s4,c4 #hbd;a-#c7;j77#c77 is am5d$ by
 /rik+ section #cj7;c7 & ins]t+ section 
#cj7;d74  7#b7 ,section #dje7;d7 ( !    
,public ,utility ,regulatory ,policies  
,act ( #aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bgje7;d77  
is am5d$ 9 ! fir/ s5t5ce--  7,a7 by     
/rik+ subsections 7c7 & 7d7 ea* place x 
appe>s & ins]t+ subsections 7d7 & 7e72 &
  7,b7 by /rik+ subsection 7a7 ( su*    
section #cj & ins]t+ section #cj7;c7 ( t
 ,act4  7#c7 ,section #cdja7;a77#b7 ( ! 
,omnibus ,budget ,reconciliation ,act ( 
#aihf 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #gagh7;a77#b77 is  
am5d$ by /rik+ #cj7;e7 & ins]t+ #cj7;f74
  7#d7 ,section #bdb7;b77#c7 ( ! ,en]gy 
,policy ,act ( #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#aehha7;b77#c77 is am5d$ by /rik+       
section #cj7;a77#b7 ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act
 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #hbc;a7a77#b77 & ins]t+ 
section #cj7;a7 ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act    
7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #hbc;a7a774  #g4 ,promot+

 small hydroelectric p[] projects       
,section #dje7;d7 ( ! ,public ,utility  
,regulatory ,policies ,act ( #aigh 7#af 
,u4,s4,c4 #bgje7;d77 is am5d$ 9 ! fir/  
s5t5ce by /rik+ #e1jjj & ins]t+ #aj1jjj4
  #h4 ,,f]c au?ority to ext5d prelim9>y 
p]mit t]ms ,section #e ( ! ,f$]al ,p[]  
,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gih7 is am5d$--    
7#a7 by designat+ ! fir/1 second1 & ?ird
 s5t5ces z subsections 7a71 7c71 & 7d71 
respectively2 &  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft]    
subsection 7a7 7z s designat$7 ! foll[+3
  7b7 ,ext5sion ,! ,commission may ext5d
 ! t]m ( a prelim9>y p]mit once = n m   
?an #b additional ye>s if ! ,commission 
f9ds t ! p]mittee has c>ri$ out         
activities "u ! p]mit 9 good fai? & )   
reasonable dilig5ce4  4  #i4 ,/udy (    
pump$ /orage & pot5tial hydrop[] f      
conduits  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all
 conduct a /udy--  7#a7 7,a7 ( !        
te*nical flexibility t exi/+ pump$      
/orage facilities c provide to support  
int]mitt5t r5ewable electric en]gy      
g5]ation1 includ+ ! pot5tial = ^? exi/+ 

facilities to be upgrad$ or retr(itt$ ) 
advanc$ comm]cially available te*nology2
 &  7,b7 ( ! te*nical pot5tial ( exi/+  
pump$ /orage facilities & new advanc$   
pump$ /orage facilities1 to provide grid
 reliability b5efits2 &  7#b7 7,a7 to   
id5tify ! range ( opportunities =       
hydrop[] t may be obta9$ f conduits 7z  
def9$ by ! ,secret>y7 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2
 &  7,b7 ?r\gh case /udies1 to assess   
am\nts ( pot5tial en]gy g5]ation f su*  
conduit hydrop[] projects4  7b7 ,report 
,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date (        
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all   
submit to ! ,committee on ,en]gy &      
,natural ,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate & !       
,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce ( !     
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report t      
describes ! results ( ! /udy conduct$ "u
 subsection 7a71 includ+ any            
recomm5dations4  #aj4 ,report on        
memor&um ( und]/&+ on hydrop[] ,n lat]  
?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t (  
?is ,act1 ! ,presid5t %all submit to !  
,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural         

,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on  
,en]gy & ,comm]ce ( ! ,h\se (           
,repres5tatives a report on actions tak5
 by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,en]gy1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
! ,int]ior1 & ! ,corps ( ,eng9e]s to    
c>ry out ! memor&um ( und]/&+ on        
hydrop[] ent]$ into on ,m>* #bd1 #bjaj1 
) p>ticul> emphasis on actions tak5 by !
 ag5cies to "w toge!r & inve/igate ways 
to effici5tly & responsibly facilitate !
 ,f$]al p]mitt+ process = ,f$]al &      
non-,f$]al hydrop[] projects at ,f$]al  
facilities1 )9 exi/+ au?ority4