On Oct. 23, 2025, Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requesting the commission initiate a rulemaking process ending a policy of giving tribal authorities the power to veto preliminary permits for hydroelectric projects on tribal lands. Wright criticized FERC’s current policy, initially adopted in 2024, as hindering hydroelectric development. The letter included a deadline of Dec. 18, 2025, for FERC to take “immediate and final action.” FERC requested comment on the proposed action by Nov. 12, 2025 and reply comments by Nov. 21, 2025.
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