The Bill was introduced by lawmakers from Colorado and Washington State Diana DeGette and Cathy Rodgers respectively.
Expected to streamline the process of securing approval for hydroelectric projects, the Bill will help hydro power become a greater contributor to the nation’s energy mix.
Commenting on the passage DeGette and Rodgers said, "While there are a vast array of renewable energies — including solar, wind and nuclear power — in my opinion, the facts are clear.
"The future of American energy independence depends on the development of an ‘all of the above’ energy approach, including hydro."
Current regulations require most hydroelectric projects to undergo a review with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which is both expensive and time consuming.
The National Hydropower Association (NHA) welcomed the approval and said that accelerating licenses for non-powered dams in the US could add nearly 60,000MW of hydropower by 2025.
NHA executive director Linda Church Ciocci stated, "It’s a common sense, bipartisan piece of legislation that will allow hydropower to contribute more to our nation’s energy needs and economic growth."
The bill states that only 3% of the country’s 80,000 dams currently generate power and therefore will make provisions for converting idle dams into power-generating ones.
