,,ii  ,calendar ,no4 #fi  #aacth        
,,congress  #ast ,session  ,s4 #ede     
,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united 
,,states  ,march #ac1 #bjac ,ms4        
,murkowski 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,wyden1   
,mr4 ,risch1 ,ms4 ,cantwell1 ,mr4       
,crapo1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mr4 ,begich1    
,mr4 ,bennet1 ,mr4 ,udall of ,colorado1 
,mr4 ,coons1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 and ,mr4 
,casey7 introduced the following bill2  
which was read twice and referred to the
 ,committee on ,energy and ,natural     
,resources  ,may #ac1 #bjac ,reported by
 ,mr4 ,wyden1 with an amendment ,strike 
out all after the enacting clause and   
insert the part printed in italic  ,a   
,,bill  ,to improve hydropower1 and for 
other purposes4  #a4 ,short title2 table
 of contents  7a7 ,short title ,this    
,act may be cited as the ,hydropower    
,improvement ,act of #bjac4  7b7 ,table 
of contents ,the table of contents of   
this ,act is as follows3  ,sec4 #a4     
,short title2 table of contents4 ,sec4  
#b4 ,findings4 ,sec4 #c4 ,definitions4  

,sec4 #d4 ,sense of the ,senate on the  
use of hydropower renewable resources4  
,sec4 #e4 ,promoting hydropower         
development at nonpowered dams and      
closed loop pumped storage projects4    
,sec4 #f4 ,promoting conduit hydropower 
projects4 ,sec4 #g4 ,promoting small    
hydroelectric power projects4 ,sec4 #h4 
,,ferc authority to extend preliminary  
permit terms4 ,sec4 #i4 ,study of pumped
 storage and potential hydropower from  
conduits4 ,sec4 #aj4 ,report on         
memorandum of understanding on          
hydropower4  #b4 ,findings ,congress    
finds that--  7#a7 hydropower is the    
largest source of clean1 renewable      
electricity in the ,united ,states2     
7#b7 as of the date of enactment of this
 ,act1 hydropower resources1 including  
pumped storage facilities1 provide--    
7,a7 nearly #g percent of the           
electricity generated in the ,united    
,states1 avoiding approximately         
#bjj1jjj1jjj metric tons of carbon      
emissions each year2 and  7,b7          

approximately #ajj1jjj megawatts of     
electric capacity in the ,united        
,states2  7#c7 only #c percent of the   
#hj1jjj dams in the ,united ,states     
generate electricity so there is        
substantial potential for adding        
hydropower generation to nonpower dams2 
7#d7 in every ,state1 a tremendous      
untapped growth potential exists in     
hydropower resources1 including--  7,a7 
efficiency improvements and capacity    
additions2  7,b7 adding generation to   
nonpower dams2  7,c7 conduit hydropower2
  7,d7 conventional hydropower2  7,e7   
pumped storage facilities2 and  7,f7 new
 marine and hydrokinetic resources2 and 
7#e7 improvements in increased          
hydropower production in the ,united    
,states have the potential--  7,a7 to   
increase the clean energy generation of 
the ,united ,states2  7,b7 to improve   
project performance and result in better
 environmental outcomes2 and  7,c7 to   
provide ancillary benefits that include 
grid reliability1 energy storage1 and   

integration services for variable       
renewable resources4  #c4 ,definitions  
,in this ,act3  7#a7 ,conduit ,the term 
conduit means any tunnel1 canal1        
pipeline1 aqueduct1 flume1 ditch1 or    
similar manmade water conveyance that is
 operated for the distribution of water 
for agricultural1 municipal1 or         
industrial consumption and not primarily
 for the generation of electricity4     
7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary    
means the ,secretary of ,energy4  7#c7  
,small hydroelectric power project ,the 
term small hydroelectric power project  
has the meaning given the term in       
section #d4cj of title #ah1 ,code of    
,federal ,regulations4  #d4 ,sense of   
the ,senate on the use of hydropower    
renewable resources ,it is the sense of 
the ,senate that the ,united ,states    
should increase substantially the       
capacity and generation of clean1       
renewable hydropower which will improve 
the environmental quality of resources  
in the ,united ,states and support local

 job creation and economic investment   
across the ,united ,states4  #e4        
,promoting hydropower development at    
nonpowered dams and closed loop pumped  
storage projects  7a7 ,in general ,to   
improve the regulatory process and      
reduce delays and costs for hydropower  
development at nonpowered dams and      
closed loop pumped storage projects1 the
 ,federal ,energy ,regulatory           
,commission 7referred to in this section
 as the ,commission7 shall investigate  
the feasibility of the issuance of a    
license for certain hydropower          
development during the #b-year period   
beginning on the date of commencement of
 the prefiling licensing process of the 
,commission 7referred to in this section
 as a #b-year process74  7b7 ,workshops 
and pilots ,the ,commission shall--     
7#a7 not later than #fj days after the  
date of enactment of this ,act1 hold an 
initial workshop to solicit public      
comment and recommendations on how to   
implement a #b-year process2  7#b7      

develop criteria for identifying        
projects featuring hydropower           
development at nonpowered dams and      
closed loop pumped storage projects that
 may be appropriate for licensing within
 a #b-year process2  7#c7 not later than
 #ahj days after the date of enactment  
of this ,act1 develop and implement     
pilot projects to test a #b-year        
process1 if practicable2 and  7#d7 not  
later than #c years after the date of   
implementation of any pilot project to  
test a #b-year process1 hold a final    
workshop to solicit public comment on   
the effectiveness of the pilot project4 
7c7 ,memorandum of understanding ,the   
,commission shall1 to the maximum extent
 practicable1 enter into a memorandum of
 understanding with any applicable      
,federal or ,state agency to implement a
 pilot project described in subsection  
7b74  7d7 ,reports  7#a7 ,pilot projects
 not implemented ,if the ,commission    
determines that the pilot projects      
described in subsection 7b7 are not     

practicable1 not later than #bdj days   
after the date of enactment of this     
,act1 the ,commission shall submit to   
the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural  
,resources of the ,senate and the       
,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of  
the ,house of ,representatives a report 
that--  7,a7 describes the public       
comments received as part of the initial
 workshop held under subsection 7b77#a72
 and  7,b7 identifies the process1      
legal1 environmental1 economic1 and     
other issues that justify the           
determination of the ,commission that a 
#b-year process is not practicable1 with
 recommendations on how ,congress may   
address or remedy the identified issues4
  7#b7 ,pilot projects implemented ,if  
the ,commission develops and implements 
pilot projects involving a #b-year      
process described in subsection 7b71 not
 later than #fj days after the date of  
completion of any final workshop held   
under subsection 7b77#d71 the           
,commission shall submit to the         

,committee on ,energy and ,natural      
,resources of the ,senate and the       
,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of  
the ,house of ,representatives a report 
that--  7,a7 describes the outcomes of  
the pilot projects2  7,b7 describes the 
public comments from the final workshop 
on the effectiveness of the pilot       
projects2 and  7,c7 7i7 outlines how the
 ,commission will adopt policies under  
existing law 7including regulations7    
that result in a #b-year process2  7ii7 
outlines how the ,commission will       
proceed with a rulemaking to adopt a    
#b-year process in the regulations of   
the ,commission2 or  7iii7 identifies   
the process1 legal1 environmental1      
economic1 and other issues that justify 
the determination of the ,commission    
that a #b-year process is not           
practicable1 with recommendations on how
 ,congress may address or remedy the    
identified issues4  #f4 ,promoting      
conduit hydropower projects  7a7        
,applicability of1 and exemption from1  

licensing requirements ,section #cj of  
the ,federal ,power ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 
#hbc;a7 is amended--  7#a7 by           
redesignating subsections 7c7 through   
7e7 as subsections 7d7 through 7f71     
respectively2  7#b7 by striking ,sec4   
#cj4 and all that follows through the   
end of subsection 7b7 and inserting the 
following3  #cj4 ,conduit hydropower    
facilities  7a7 ,definitions ,in this   
section3  7#a7 ,conduit ,the term       
conduit means any tunnel1 canal1        
pipeline1 aqueduct1 flume1 ditch1 or    
similar manmade water conveyance that is
 operated--  7,a7 for the distribution  
of water for agricultural1 municipal1 or
 industrial consumption2 and  7,b7 not  
primarily for the generation of         
electricity4  7#b7 ,qualifying conduit  
hydropower facility ,the term qualifying
 conduit hydropower facility means a    
facility 7not including any dam or other
 impoundment7 that is determined or     
deemed under subsection 7b77#b77;,d7 to 
meet the qualifying criteria4  7#c7     

,qualifying criteria ,the term          
qualifying criteria means1 with respect 
to a facility1 that--  7,a7 the facility
 is constructed1 operated1 or maintained
 for the generation of electric power   
and uses for the generation only the    
hydroelectric potential of a            
non-federally owned conduit2  7,b7 the  
facility has an installed capacity that 
does not exceed #e megawatts2 and  7,c7 
on or before the date of enactment of   
the ,hydropower ,improvement ,act of    
#bjac1 the facility is not licensed     
under1 or exempted from the license     
requirements contained in1 this part4   
7b7 ,administration  7#a7 ,in general ,a
 qualifying conduit hydropower facility 
shall not be required to be licensed    
under this part4  7#b7 ,notice of intent
 to construct facility  7,a7 ,in general
 ,any person1 ,state1 or municipality   
proposing to construct a qualifying     
conduit hydropower facility shall file  
with the ,commission a notice of intent 
to construct the qualifying conduit     

hydropower facility4  7,b7 ,information 
,the notice shall include sufficient    
information to demonstrate that the     
facility meets the qualifying criteria4 
7,c7 ,initial determination ,not later  
than #ae days after receipt of a notice 
of intent is filed under subparagraph   
7,a71 the ,commission shall--  7i7 make 
an initial determination as to whether  
the facility meets the qualifying       
criteria2 and  7ii7 if the ,commission  
makes an initial determination1 pursuant
 to clause 7i7 that the facility meets  
the qualifying criteria1 publish public 
notice of the notice of intent filed    
under subparagraph 7,a74  7,d7 ,final   
determination ,if1 not later than #de   
days after the date of publication of   
the public notice described in          
subparagraph 7,c77ii7--  7i7 an entity  
contests whether the facility meets the 
qualifying criteria1 the ,commission    
shall promptly issue a written          
determination as to whether the facility
 meets the qualifying criteria2 or  7ii7

 no entity contests whether the facility
 meets the qualifying criteria1 the     
facility shall be considered to meet the
 qualifying criteria4  7c7 ,exemptions  
,subject to subsection 7d71 the         
,commission may grant an exemption in   
whole or in part from the requirements  
of this part1 including any license     
requirements contained in this part1 to 
any facility 7not including any dam or  
other impoundment7 constructed1         
operated1 or maintained for the         
generation of electric power that the   
,commission determines1 by rule or      
order--  7#a7 uses for the generation   
only the hydroelectric potential of a   
conduit2 and  7#b7 has an installed     
capacity that does not exceed #dj       
megawatts4  2  7#c7 in subsection 7d7   
7as redesigned by paragraph 7#a771 by   
striking subsection 7a7 and inserting   
subsection 7c72 and  7#d7 in subsection 
7e7 7as so redesignated71 by striking   
subsection 7a7 and inserting subsection 
7c74  7b7 ,conforming amendments  7#a7  

,section #baj7;j77#c7 of the ,public    
,utility ,regulatory ,policies ,act of  
#aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #hbd;a-#c7;j77#c77 
is amended by striking section #cj7;c7  
and inserting section #cj7;d74  7#b7    
,section #dje7;d7 of the ,public        
,utility ,regulatory ,policies ,act of  
#aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bgje7;d77 is      
amended in the first sentence--  7,a7 by
 striking subsections 7c7 and 7d7 each  
place it appears and inserting          
subsections 7d7 and 7e72 and  7,b7 by   
striking subsection 7a7 of such section 
#cj and inserting section #cj7;c7 of    
that ,act4  7#c7 ,section #cdja7;a77#b7 
of the ,omnibus ,budget ,reconciliation 
,act of #aihf 7#db ,u4,s4,c4            
#gagh7;a77#b77 is amended by striking   
#cj7;e7 and inserting #cj7;f74  7#d7    
,section #bdb7;b77#c7 of the ,energy    
,policy ,act of #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4    
#aehha7;b77#c77 is amended by striking  
section #cj7;a77#b7 of the ,federal     
,power ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4              
#hbc;a7a77#b77 and inserting section    

#cj7;a7 of the ,federal ,power ,act 7#af
 ,u4,s4,c4 #hbc;a7a774  #g4 ,promoting  
small hydroelectric power projects      
,section #dje7;d7 of the ,public        
,utility ,regulatory ,policies ,act of  
#aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bgje7;d77 is      
amended in the first sentence by        
striking #e1jjj and inserting #aj1jjj4  
#h4 ,,ferc authority to extend          
preliminary permit terms ,section #e of 
the ,federal ,power ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 
#gih7 is amended--  7#a7 by designating 
the first1 second1 and third sentences  
as subsections 7a71 7c71 and 7d71       
respectively2 and  7#b7 by inserting    
after subsection 7a7 7as so designated7 
the following3  7b7 ,extension ,the     
,commission may extend the term of a    
preliminary permit once for not more    
than #b additional years if the         
,commission finds that the permittee has
 carried out activities under the permit
 in good faith and with reasonable      
diligence4  4  #i4 ,study of pumped     
storage and potential hydropower from   

conduits  7a7 ,in general ,the          
,secretary shall conduct a study--  7#a7
 7,a7 of the technical flexibility that 
existing pumped storage facilities can  
provide to support intermittent         
renewable electric energy generation1   
including the potential for those       
existing facilities to be upgraded or   
retrofitted with advanced commercially  
available technology2 and  7,b7 of the  
technical potential of existing pumped  
storage facilities and new advanced     
pumped storage facilities1 to provide   
grid reliability benefits2 and  7#b7    
7,a7 to identify the range of           
opportunities for hydropower that may be
 obtained from conduits 7as defined by  
the ,secretary7 in the ,united ,states2 
and  7,b7 through case studies1 to      
assess amounts of potential energy      
generation from such conduit hydropower 
projects4  7b7 ,report ,not later than  
#a year after the date of enactment of  
this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit  
to the ,committee on ,energy and        

,natural ,resources of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce 
of the ,house of ,representatives a     
report that describes the results of the
 study conducted under subsection 7a71  
including any recommendations4  #aj4    
,report on memorandum of understanding  
on hydropower ,not later than #ahj days 
after the date of enactment of this     
,act1 the ,president shall submit to the
 ,committee on ,energy and ,natural     
,resources of the ,senate and the       
,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of  
the ,house of ,representatives a report 
on actions taken by the ,department of  
,energy1 the ,department of the         
,interior1 and the ,corps of ,engineers 
to carry out the memorandum of          
understanding on hydropower entered into
 on ,march #bd1 #bjaj1 with particular  
emphasis on actions taken by the        
agencies to work together and           
investigate ways to efficiently and     
responsibly facilitate the ,federal     
permitting process for ,federal and     

non-,federal hydropower projects at     
,federal facilities1 within existing    
authority4  #a4 ,short title2 table of  
contents  7a7 ,short title ,this ,act   
may be cited as the ,hydropower         
,regulatory ,efficiency ,act of #bjac4  
7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of    
contents of this ,act is as follows3    
,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of        
contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,findings4 ,sec4 #c4
 ,promoting small hydroelectric power   
projects4 ,sec4 #d4 ,promoting conduit  
hydropower projects4 ,sec4 #e4 ,,ferc   
authority to extend preliminary permit  
periods4 ,sec4 #f4 ,promoting hydropower
 development at nonpowered dams and     
closed loop pumped storage projects4    
,sec4 #g4 ,,doe study of pumped storage 
and potential hydropower from conduits4 
#b4 ,findings ,congress finds that--    
7#a7 the hydropower industry currently  
employs approximately #cjj1jjj workers  
across the ,united ,states2  7#b7       
hydropower is the largest source of     
clean1 renewable electricity in the     

,united ,states2  7#c7 as of the date of
 enactment of this ,act1 hydropower     
resources1 including pumped storage     
facilities1 provide--  7,a7 nearly #g   
percent of the electricity generated in 
the ,united ,states2 and  7,b7          
approximately #ajj1jjj megawatts of     
electric capacity in the ,united        
,states2  7#d7 only #c percent of the   
#hj1jjj dams in the ,united ,states     
generate electricity1 so there is       
substantial potential for adding        
hydropower generation to nonpowered     
dams2 and  7#e7 according to one study1 
by utilizing currently untapped         
resources1 the ,united ,states could add
 approximately #fj1jjj megawatts of new 
hydropower capacity by #bjbe1 which     
could create #gjj1jjj new jobs over the 
next #ac years4  #c4 ,promoting small   
hydroelectric power projects ,subsection
 7d7 of section #dje of the ,public     
,utility ,regulatory ,policies ,act of  
#aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bgje7 is amended  
by striking #e1jjj and inserting        

#aj1jjj4  #d4 ,promoting conduit        
hydropower projects  7a7 ,applicability 
of1 and exemption from1 licensing       
requirements ,section #cj of the        
,federal ,power ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4     
#hbc;a7 is amended--  7#a7 by striking  
subsections 7a7 and 7b7 and inserting   
the following3  7a7 7#a7 ,a qualifying  
conduit hydropower facility shall not be
 required to be licensed under this     
part4  7#b7 7,a7 ,any person1 ,state1 or
 municipality proposing to construct a  
qualifying conduit hydropower facility  
shall file with the ,commission a notice
 of intent to construct such facility4  
,the notice shall include sufficient    
information to demonstrate that the     
facility meets the qualifying criteria4 
7,b7 ,not later than #ae days after     
receipt of a notice of intent filed     
under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,commission
 shall--  7i7 make an initial           
determination as to whether the facility
 meets the qualifying criteria2 and     
7ii7 if the ,commission makes an initial

 determination1 pursuant to clause 7i71 
that the facility meets the qualifying  
criteria1 publish public notice of the  
notice of intent filed under            
subparagraph 7,a74  7,c7 ,if1 not later 
than #de days after the date of         
publication of the public notice        
described in subparagraph 7,b77ii7--    
7i7 an entity contests whether the      
facility meets the qualifying criteria1 
the ,commission shall promptly issue a  
written determination as to whether the 
facility meets such criteria2 or  7ii7  
no entity contests whether the facility 
meets the qualifying criteria1 the      
facility shall be deemed to meet such   
criteria4  7#c7 ,for purposes of this   
section3  7,a7 ,the term conduit means  
any tunnel1 canal1 pipeline1 aqueduct1  
flume1 ditch1 or similar manmade water  
conveyance that is operated for the     
distribution of water for agricultural1 
municipal1 or industrial consumption and
 not primarily for the generation of    
electricity4  7,b7 ,the term qualifying 

conduit hydropower facility means a     
facility 7not including any dam or other
 impoundment7 that is determined or     
deemed under paragraph 7#b77;,c7 to meet
 the qualifying criteria4  7,c7 ,the    
term qualifying criteria means1 with    
respect to a facility--  7i7 the        
facility is constructed1 operated1 or   
maintained for the generation of        
electric power and uses for such        
generation only the hydroelectric       
potential of a non-federally owned      
conduit2  7ii7 the facility has an      
installed capacity that does not exceed 
#e megawatts2 and  7iii7 on or before   
the date of enactment of the ,hydropower
 ,regulatory ,efficiency ,act of #bjac1 
the facility is not licensed under1 or  
exempted from the license requirements  
contained in1 this part4  7b7 ,subject  
to subsection 7c71 the ,commission may  
grant an exemption in whole or in part  
from the requirements of this part1     
including any license requirements      
contained in this part1 to any facility 

7not including any dam or other         
impoundment7 constructed1 operated1 or  
maintained for the generation of        
electric power which the ,commission    
determines1 by rule or order--  7#a7    
utilizes for such generation only the   
hydroelectric potential of a conduit2   
and  7#b7 has an installed capacity that
 does not exceed #dj megawatts4  2  7#b7
 in subsection 7c71 by striking         
subsection 7a7 and inserting subsection 
7b72 and  7#c7 in subsection 7d71 by    
striking subsection 7a7 and inserting   
subsection 7b74  7b7 ,conforming        
amendment ,subsection 7d7 of section    
#dje of the ,public ,utility ,regulatory
 ,policies ,act of #aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 
#bgje71 as amended1 is further amended  
by striking subsection 7a7 of such      
section #cj and inserting subsection 7b7
 of such section #cj4  #e4 ,,ferc       
authority to extend preliminary permit  
periods ,section #e of the ,federal     
,power ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gih7 is     
amended--  7#a7 by designating the      

first1 second1 and third sentences as   
subsections 7a71 7c71 and 7d71          
respectively2 and  7#b7 by inserting    
after subsection 7a7 7as so designated7 
the following3  7b7 ,the ,commission may
 extend the period of a preliminary     
permit once for not more than #b        
additional years beyond the #c years    
permitted by subsection 7a7 if the      
,commission finds that the permittee has
 carried out activities under such      
permit in good faith and with reasonable
 diligence4  4  #f4 ,promoting          
hydropower development at nonpowered    
dams and closed loop pumped storage     
projects  7a7 ,in general ,to improve   
the regulatory process and reduce delays
 and costs for hydropower development at
 nonpowered dams and closed loop pumped 
storage projects1 the ,federal ,energy  
,regulatory ,commission 7referred to in 
this section as the ,commission7 shall  
investigate the feasibility of the      
issuance of a license for hydropower    
development at nonpowered dams and      

closed loop pumped storage projects in a
 #b-year period 7referred to in this    
section as a #b-year process74 ,such a  
#b-year process shall include any       
prefiling licensing process of the      
,commission4  7b7 ,workshops and pilots 
,the ,commission shall--  7#a7 not later
 than #fj days after the date of        
enactment of this ,act1 hold an initial 
workshop to solicit public comment and  
recommendations on how to implement a   
#b-year process2  7#b7 develop criteria 
for identifying projects featuring      
hydropower development at nonpowered    
dams and closed loop pumped storage     
projects that may be appropriate for    
licensing within a #b-year process2     
7#c7 not later than #ahj days after the 
date of enactment of this ,act1 develop 
and implement pilot projects to test a  
#b-year process1 if practicable2 and    
7#d7 not later than #c years after the  
date of implementation of the final     
pilot project testing a #b-year process1
 hold a final workshop to solicit public

 comment on the effectiveness of each   
tested #b-year process4  7c7 ,memorandum
 of understanding ,the ,commission      
shall1 to the extent practicable1 enter 
into a memorandum of understanding with 
any applicable ,federal or ,state agency
 to implement a pilot project described 
in subsection 7b74  7d7 ,reports  7#a7  
,pilot projects not implemented ,if the 
,commission determines that no pilot    
project described in subsection 7b7 is  
practicable because no #b-year process  
is practicable1 not later than #bdj days
 after the date of enactment of this    
,act1 the ,commission shall submit to   
the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce 
of the ,house of ,representatives and   
the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural  
,resources of the ,senate a report      
that--  7,a7 describes the public       
comments received as part of the initial
 workshop held under subsection 7b77#a72
 and  7,b7 identifies the process1      
legal1 environmental1 economic1 and     
other issues that justify the           

determination of the ,commission that no
 #b-year process is practicable1 with   
recommendations on how ,congress may    
address or remedy the identified issues4
  7#b7 ,pilot projects implemented ,if  
the ,commission develops and implements 
pilot projects involving a #b-year      
process1 not later than #fj days after  
the date of completion of the final     
workshop held under subsection 7b77#d71 
the ,commission shall submit to the     
,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of  
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,committee on ,energy and ,natural      
,resources of the ,senate a report      
that--  7,a7 describes the outcomes of  
the pilot projects2  7,b7 describes the 
public comments from the final workshop 
on the effectiveness of each tested     
#b-year process2 and  7,c7 7i7 outlines 
how the ,commission will adopt policies 
under existing law 7including           
regulations7 that result in a #b-year   
process for appropriate projects2  7ii7 
outlines how the ,commission will issue 

new regulations to adopt a #b-year      
process for appropriate projects2 or    
7iii7 identifies the process1 legal1    
environmental1 economic1 and other      
issues that justify a determination of  
the ,commission that no #b-year process 
is practicable1 with recommendations on 
how ,congress may address or remedy the 
identified issues4  #g4 ,,doe study of  
pumped storage and potential hydropower 
from conduits  7a7 ,in general ,the     
,secretary of ,energy shall conduct a   
study--  7#a7 7,a7 of the technical     
flexibility that existing pumped storage
 facilities can provide to support      
intermittent renewable electric energy  
generation1 including the potential for 
such existing facilities to be upgraded 
or retrofitted with advanced            
commercially available technology2 and  
7,b7 of the technical potential of      
existing pumped storage facilities and  
new advanced pumped storage facilities1 
to provide grid reliability benefits2   
and  7#b7 7,a7 to identify the range of 

opportunities for hydropower that may be
 obtained from conduits 7as defined by  
the ,secretary7 in the ,united ,states2 
and  7,b7 through case studies1 to      
assess amounts of potential energy      
generation from such conduit hydropower 
projects4  7b7 ,report ,not later than  
#a year after the date of enactment of  
this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,energy    
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of  
,representatives and the ,committee on  
,energy and ,natural ,resources of the  
,senate a report that describes the     
results of the study conducted under    
subsection 7a71 including any           
recommendations4  ,may #ac1 #bjac       
,reported with an amendment