Smith, DelBene, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Hydropower Investment

Washington, DC - Today Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) introduced the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act, legislation extending a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) to American hydroelectric investments to improve power production, provide environmental benefits, or remove outdated dam infrastructure through 2031.

The members released the following statements:

"The ability to harness the power of moving water has paid tremendous dividends for Nebraska's economy and many other regions of the country," said Rep. Smith "To meet growing energy demands for the future, we must capitalize on the benefit of sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy sources like hydroelectricity. This legislation will promote development of hydropower and appropriate stewardship of our water resources. I thank my colleagues for joining me to reintroduce this important bill."

"Washington is a leader in harnessing hydropower to provide reliable and affordable clean energy. This legislation builds on that progress by creating new incentives to improve dam safety, protect fish habitats, and enhance grid resilience. These changes will help Washington families save on energy costs while advancing our commitment to a cleaner future," said Rep. DelBene.

"Hydropower is a powerful bridge between America's energy past and its clean energy future. This bipartisan bill ensures we maximize its potential-investing in modern infrastructure, strengthening grid security, and restoring vital waterways. By pairing innovation with environmental responsibility, we are building a more resilient and sustainable energy system for generations to come," said Rep. Fitzpatrick.

"Hydropower is the largest source of electricity in Washington state, comprising 67% of the energy generation mix. It's important we invest in the safety of this reliable, affordable resource to achieve our emissions goals while restoring river health and safe passage for salmon and steelhead populations," said Rep. Schrier. "This legislation will incentivize safer hydroelectric energy production while also enhancing aquatic ecosystems, water quality, and public use upgrades."

"Hydropower is at the heart of lowering energy costs for hardworking Granite Staters and making America the world's clean energy superpower," said Rep. Goodlander. "I'm proud to be working to get this important bipartisan legislation across the finish line."

For text of the legislation click here.

Currently, the ITC covering hydropower only applies to investments that produce a marginal increase in power generation. Vital environmental and maintenance investments such as new fish passage to help enhance aquatic ecosystems, structural upgrades to ensure the safety of dams, and generator rewinds to improve grid resiliency that do not result in power increases are not currently eligible for this credit. With many decades-old hydroelectric dams facing costly upgrades to continue operating safely and economically, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2025 bridges the gap in current law. Examples of eligible investments include adding fish-friendly turbines or new fish ladders, managing river sediments to improve habitat, upgrading or replacing floodgates and spillways, and expanding access to public waterways impacted by existing dams.

The bipartisan bill would also support local efforts to remove non-power producing river barriers, including abandoned or obsolete dams, dikes, or embankments, allowing those rivers to run free and naturally once again. Private, state, local, and non-profit groups could use the 30 percent federal tax incentive, with a direct pay option, to support efforts to demolish and remove unnecessary barriers with the owner's consent. Removing obsolete river obstructions that no longer meet their intended purpose nor benefit society can provide new outdoor recreation opportunities, create new fish and wildlife habitat, spur local economic development, and increase the resilience of rivers.

Industry leaders shared the following statements in support of the legislation:

"Our District sincerely thanks Congressman Adrian Smith for introducing the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration act," said Kyle Shepherd, President of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District Board. "Lake McConaughy is one of Nebraska's most vital pieces of water infrastructure, and this bill can help provide the necessary resources to maintain Kingsley Dam and ensure its safe operation far into the future for Nebraska and its people."

"Hydropower is well-positioned to help America meet our bold energy goals - with the right federal support. America's first electricity resource is reliable, dependable, domestically-sourced, and capable of bolstering our grid at a moment's notice, but a lack of investment in these "forever assets" threatens those capabilities. NHA is proud to support this bipartisan legislation because we know that it will help preserve this critical resource at a time when America needs every megawatt to power our continued prosperity," said Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO, National Hydropower Association.

"We support this bipartisan legislation which aligns well with President Trump's previous comments on the importance of clean water. Rivers are the lifeblood of our nation, providing drinking water, sanitation, power generation, and the transport of millions of tons of American industrial and agricultural products. Hydropower plays a special role in safeguarding our waters and this legislation will help in that regard," said Jeff Kupfer, President, ConservAmerica.

"We support legislation that incentivizes the removal of dams that no longer serve a beneficial purpose, while also promoting essential investments in fish passage, dam safety, public access to waterways, and overall river health improvements where dams continue to impact rivers," said Thomas O'Keefe, Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director, American Whitewater.

"We applaud the bipartisan leadership behind this timely bill, which promotes dam safety and advances river restoration. This legislation is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between conservation groups and the hydropower industry to find common-sense solutions that benefit both river ecosystems and renewable energy generation while also lowering costs for consumers. We look forward to working with Congress to get this critical legislation across the finish line and enacted into law," said Tom Kiernan, President, and CEO of American Rivers.

"We applaud the bipartisan leadership for this bill that provides critical incentives that will enable hydropower to invest in new energy generation, dam safety, and river health. Hydropower is an energy source that has been powering communities across America for generations and remains essential for a reliable and secure electricity grid. We are grateful to Reps. Smith and DelBene along with Sens. Cantwell and Murkowski for advancing solutions that will promote environmental stewardship, enhance public safety, and strengthen our energy security," said Shannon Ames, Executive Director, Low Impact Hydropower Institute.

BACKGROUND:

Smith introduced the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act in December 2023. Smith has supported legislation to encourage development of hydroelectric and other renewable energy production since 2007.

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