- These payments represent the most significant investment in hydroelectric facilities for U.S. DOE.
- Hydropower accounts for 28.7% of renewable electricity generation in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that 66 hydro facilities will receive more than $38 million. This is for incentive payments for electricity generated and sold. Also, the “reimagined” Hydropower Vision Roadmap was released. The project is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Facilities located in communities with inadequate electric service were considered. Also, the incentive payments provide funding for electricity generated and sold from dams and other water infrastructure. This adds or expands hydroelectric power-generating capabilities. According to a release, these payments represent the largest investment in hydroelectric facilities to date for U.S. DOE.
According to U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, Hydropower is one of the nation’s original sources of renewable energy. He stated that President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is providing transformative funding to help protect this existing clean energy infrastructure. he added that today’s announcement supports waterpower’s continued growth while maintaining and expanding good-paying jobs and increasing access to affordable, clean power where it is needed most.
Likewise, Hydropower accounts for 28.7 per cent of renewable electricity generation in the U.S. This includes 93 per cent of all utility-scale energy storage capacity. However, fewer than 3 per cent of the nation’s more than 90,000 dams produce power. Adding generation equipment to these sites could add up to 12 GW of new hydropower capacity to the U.S. electric system.
Furthermore, DOE’s Grid Deployment Office Hydroelectric Production Incentives are part of a comprehensive program funded by a $750 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This is to support the continued operation of the U.S. hydropower fleet and ensure a more reliable and resilient electric grid system.