From the Editor’s Desk |
momentum for waterpower
Policy N
orth America’s hydropower sector finds itself at a pivotal moment. Across both the US and Canada, policy momentum, public support, and industry advocacy are converging to help reshape the role of
waterpower in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. The latest news from Washington, Ottawa, and beyond reflects both the urgency and the opportunity facing our sector.
In the US, the House recently passed the
Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act, a bipartisan effort to shed light on one of the most persistent bottlenecks in our industry: licensing and relicensing. As many operators know all too well, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) process can take seven to ten years – longer than licensing a new nuclear plant, according to Malcolm Woolf of the National Hydropower Association (NHA). That timeline is increasingly untenable given that more than 40% of the nation’s existing licenses are set to expire in the coming decade. By requiring FERC to report annually to Congress on licensing progress, the legislation aims to increase accountability and efficiency. Supporters argue it will give communities, Tribes, and stakeholders more timely information while reducing unnecessary delays. While it is only “a first step,” in Woolf’s words, it signals that policymakers are hearing the industry’s concerns and beginning to act. At the same time, hydropower received another significant boost through the passage of the wide- ranging reconciliation package dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Signed into law earlier this summer, the legislation preserves full access to clean energy tax credits for hydropower and other water technologies through 2033. Crucially, it maintains elective pay provisions, ensuring that public power utilities and cooperatives – not just investor-owned utilities – can benefit. This is especially important for rural and underserved communities, where hydropower often provides the backbone of grid reliability. Taken together, these measures represent a meaningful step toward modernising a fleet that
4 | September 2025 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
delivers clean, baseload power to 25 million American homes and businesses every day. But they also underscore how much work remains. Without continued reform of the licensing process, the sector risks falling behind at precisely the moment when the grid needs it most. North of the border, the conversation is equally dynamic. The Canadian government’s Building Canada Act and Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act set ambitious targets for streamlining major infrastructure approvals, cutting review times from five years to two under a “one project, one review” framework. WaterPower Canada (WPC) applauded the move, noting that hydropower remains the backbone of the country’s electricity system, generating over 60% of its power. As WPC CEO Lorena Patterson put it, the legislation marks a shift from debating whether to build to focusing on how to get projects built – an approach that matches the urgency of Canada’s climate and energy goals.
And Canadians are firmly on board. A recent Abacus Data poll commissioned by WPC found that more than 90% of Canadians support expanding hydro capacity, both new and existing. That level of consensus is rare in energy policy and reflects hydro’s reputation as affordable, reliable, and sustainable. For those of us in the hydropower and dam
sector, the path forward is clear. The challenges of aging infrastructure, climate resilience, and growing demand cannot be met without a robust, revitalised waterpower industry. North America’s governments, industry leaders, and – most importantly – the public are signalling their support. Now is the time to turn that momentum into action.
Carrieann Stocks
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