Hydro Relicensing Redux: Will Dams Be Saved?

Congressmen, industry experts, and environmentalists square off over efforts to streamline relicensing.

April 1, 2000

The current relicensing scheme for regulated hydroelectric projects is too costly, invites too many bitter court battles, and involves too many government agencies, critics say.

That criticism - not new in the hydro industry - in the past has tended to fall on deaf ears. Many from time to time have challenged the hydro relicensing process, which stems largely from federal legislation amended by Congress, but their efforts have met without real success. Lately however, some in Congress have begun to show concern. They worry that the current process may crack under the monstrous volume of hydro capacity due for relicensing in coming years. Congress may be ready this year to amend the legislative scheme.

According to the Edison Electric Institute, more than 40 percent of the hydro projects licensed to parties other than federal agencies - spread among 34 states - in the next decade will come up for relicensing before the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Extend the timeline through 2015, and some 39 states are involved. In each case, a myriad of federal and state agencies may seek to impose their own conditions on any licensing approval.