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S. 215Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed Senate

A bill to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue an order continuing a stay of a hydroelectric license for the Mahoney Lake hydroelectric project in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Lisa MurkowskiSen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Introduced January 24, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:16 PM UTC

This bill lets the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) keep a pause, or "stay," on the hydroelectric license for the Mahoney Lake project in Alaska and sets out how and when that pause can be lifted. It also gives the license holder a way to extend the time allowed to start building the project and to reinstate the license if the original construction deadline has already passed. The changes affect the licensee and the Mahoney Lake hydroelectric project.

Key Provisions

  • FERC must issue an order to continue the stay of the license when the licensee asks for it.
  • The licensee can request that the stay be lifted any time within ten years of the law’s enactment; the license’s effective date becomes the date the stay is lifted.
  • The licensee may request up to three consecutive two‑year extensions beyond the standard deadline for beginning construction, following FERC’s usual procedures.
  • If the construction deadline has already expired, FERC may reinstate the license as of its expiration date and apply the first extension.
  • The act does not give the Mahoney Lake project any special priority over other electric generating facilities.

Legislative Activity

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8 earlier actions
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

July 3, 2018

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 24, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

January 24, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

March 30, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-77.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

May 24, 2017

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 96.

May 24, 2017

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4809; text: CR S4809)

June 28, 2018

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

June 29, 2018

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

July 3, 2018 • 11:37 AM

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

July 3, 2018

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 215 on the floor

1 Republican
Mitch McConnell
Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · Jun 28, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 100, S. 724, with a floor amendment; Calendar No. 306, H.R.…

Record

Bill Text

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Referred in HouseIssued July 3, 2018

IC

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 215

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 3, 2018

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

AN ACT

To authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue an order continuing a stay of a hydroelectric license for the Mahoney Lake hydroelectric project in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.

1.

Stay and Reinstatement of FERC License No. 11393 for the Mahoney Lake Hydroelectric Project

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Commission

The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

(2)

License

The term license means the license for the Commission project numbered 11393.

(3)

Licensee

The term licensee means the holder of the license.

(b)

Stay of license

On the request of the licensee, the Commission shall issue an order continuing the stay of the license.

(c)

Lifting of stay

On the request of the licensee, but not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall—

(1)

issue an order lifting the stay of the license under subsection (b); and

(2)

make the effective date of the license the date on which the stay is lifted under paragraph (1).

(d)

Extension of license

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding the time period specified in section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) that would otherwise apply to the Commission project numbered 11393, the Commission may, at the request of the licensee, and after reasonable notice, in accordance with the good faith, due diligence, and public interest requirements of, and the procedures of the Commission under, that section, extend the time period during which the licensee is required to commence the construction of the project for not more than 3 consecutive 2-year periods from the date of the expiration of the extension originally issued by the Commission.

(2)

Reinstatement of expired license

(A)

In general

If the period required for the commencement of construction of the project described in paragraph (1) has expired prior to the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission may reinstate the license effective as of the date of the expiration of the license.

(B)

Extension

If the Commission reinstates the license under subparagraph (A), the first extension authorized under paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of that expiration.

(e)

Effect

Nothing in this Act prioritizes, or creates any advantage or disadvantage to, Commission project numbered 11393 under Federal law, including the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) or the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.), as compared to—

(1)

any electric generating facility in existence on the date of enactment of this Act; or

(2)

any electric generating facility that may be examined, proposed, or developed during the period of any stay or extension of the license under this Act.

Passed the Senate June 28, 2018.

Julie E. Adams,

Secretary