Robert C. Byrd Hydroelectric Project is the Latest to Gain FAST-41 Coverage
Contact Information
Permitting Council Press Office (media@permitting.gov)
WASHINGTON (November 25, 2025) – Today, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announced the FAST-41 coverage of the Robert C. Byrd Hydroelectric Project. Located in Mason County, West Virginia, this 28.5 megawatt (MW) facility is anticipated to generate enough electricity to power over 18,000 homes each year.
“I am pleased to welcome the Robert C. Byrd Hydroelectric project to FAST-41 coverage,” said Emily Domenech, Permitting Council Executive Director. “We’re committed to supporting projects that provide dispatchable power to our nation’s grid. I look forward to working with Current Hydro and other federal agencies to provide a transparent and efficient permitting process for this critical project.”
The project is expected to produce over 190,000 MWh annually of baseload electricity at the existing, non-powered Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam on the Ohio River. Current Hydro anticipates that the project will preserve natural river flow and boost water quality, while supporting local business and generating regional tax revenue. Once permitted the project is expected to employ over 250 workers during the three-year construction phase, with construction expected to begin mid 2026.
“FAST-41 is a game-changer for projects that add hydropower to existing non-powered dams, like the Robert C. Byrd Hydroelectric Project,” said Jeremy King, CEO of Current Hydro. “Our recent partnership with Digital Realty highlights the critical role hydropower plays in powering data centers while delivering dependable, cost-effective energy to the grid. By offering a transparent, coordinated permitting process with clear accountability across federal agencies, FAST-41 enables us to meet growing energy demand responsibly while maximizing the value of existing federal infrastructure.”
The project is sponsored by Current Hydro LLC on behalf of Ohio Power and Light, LLC. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the lead federal permitting agency. Learn more about the Robert C. Byrd Hydroelectric project on the Federal Permitting Dashboard.
About the Permitting Council and FAST-41
Established in 2015 by Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) is a federal agency charged with improving the transparency and predictability of the federal environmental review and authorization process for certain critical infrastructure projects. The Permitting Council is composed of the Permitting Council Executive Director, who serves as the Council Chair; 13 federal agency Council members; and the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Office of the Executive Director coordinates federal environmental reviews and authorizations for projects that seek and qualify for FAST-41 coverage, which are in turn entitled to comprehensive permitting timetables and transparent, collaborative management of those timetables on the Federal Permitting Dashboard.
Learn more about the Permitting Council at permitting.gov.
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Last Updated: Tuesday, November 25, 2025