H.R. 2072 — To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.

This section authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), notwithstanding section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806), to extend on request the period to commence construction for hydropower projects licensed before March 13, 2020 (covered projects) by up to an additional 6 years beyond the 8 years currently authorized (i.e., up to 16 years total from license issuance, in up to three consecutive 2-year periods beginning after the final existing extension expires). (As background, section 13 requires hydropower licensees to commence construction within two years of license issuance, with extensions up to eight additional years, or face license termination.) The section further directs FERC to reinstate any covered project license that expired after December 31, 2023, and before enactment, effective as of the expiration date, after which the new extension period applies.