The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that 66 hydro facilities will receive more than $38 million in incentive payments for electricity generated and sold, and the “reimagined” Hydropower Vision Roadmap has been released. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and with consideration of facilities located in communities with inadequate electric service, the incentive payments provide funding for electricity generated and sold from dams and other water infrastructure that add or expand hydroelectric power generating capabilities. These payments represent DOE’s largest investment in hydroelectric facilities to date, according to a release.

Earlier this year, two U.S. senators—Steve Daines (R) of Montana and Maria Cantwell (D) of Washington—introduced a bill that would speed up the licensing process by the FERC for an array of hydroelectric projects, with a focus on converting many dams that don’t currently produce electricity into ones that do. A Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee began initial hearings on the bill in mid-July. The bill has gained early support from industry, environmental groups, Native tribes and the Biden administration. But it’s also getting pushback from some advocates who say that expanding or extending the use of hydropower could actually worsen climate change and hasten ecological degradation.

EDF Group opens floating solar power plant on Lazer hydropower plant reservoir. The solar power plant complements the hydropower scheme, particularly in the summer months, by continuing to supply electricity when the water from Lazer Reservoir is used primarily for crop irrigation. The facility’s anchor and float systems allow it to adapt to variations in the reservoir water level, with no impact on its operation. What about doing this at the Mt. Elbert forebay reservoir at Twin Lakes?

Hydropower is a mature technology that is over a century old, and it is therefore challenging to introduce innovative technology without robust proof of cost reduction and zero implementation risk. However, newer technology could be necessary to reduce construction costs and meet environmental requirements in hydropower project development. Read about these innovative ideas.

The White Pine Pumped Storage project is expected to provide 8 hours of energy storage at its full capacity of 1,000 MW, which is equivalent to about an eighth of Nevada’s peak power demand on a hot summer day. The project’s construction phase will create up to 500 construction jobs. Once online, the plant will bring more than 35 new full-time, skilled positions to the area and provide an estimated $12 million in additional annual tax revenue for state and local governments.

The San Diego County Water Authority has an unusual plan to use the city's scenic San Vicente Reservoir to store solar power so it's available after sunset. The project, and others like it, could help unlock America's clean energy future.