US SB1968

Working Waterfronts Act of 2025 (S. 1968)

• Creates a 30% tax credit for hydropower improvement property including fish passage upgrades, water quality improvements, marine energy projects, and remote hydroelectric dams up to 40 megawatts serving off-grid communities

• Establishes a $20 million/year pilot program (FY2026-2030) to help commercial fishing vessels transition to alternative fuels through loans for new vessel construction, retrofitting, and shoreside infrastructure like charging stations

• Expands USDA farm loans and grants to include commercial fishing operations and fish processing facilities, treating fishing permits, vessels, and processing equipment as eligible agricultural assets

• Authorizes $20 million/year (FY2026-2030) for working waterfront preservation grants to protect and improve coastal infrastructure used by commercial fishing, mariculture, recreational fishing, and boatbuilding industries

• Creates Ocean Innovation Clusters in 7 regions to promote Blue Economy development, with $25 million/year for maritime workforce training grants and $10 million/year for seafood processing infrastructure in rural coastal communities