The US Department of Energy has issued a Request for Information seeking public feedback to inform the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s nearly USD 630 million in investments in hydropower facilities. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests in the “Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives” and “Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives” programs to modernize the nation’s hydropower facilities and produce clean, affordable power. The funding will cover capital improvement projects that will make hydropower facilities more energy efficient and resilient. Water is a critical resource for generating clean, carbon-free electricity and crucial to reaching President Biden’s goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. Hydropower facilities, which use the flow of moving water to generate electricity, currently supply 6% of all electricity in the United States and account for 32% of renewable-electricity generation. Hydropower also provides critical energy storage, accounting for 93% of all utility-scale energy storage, helping to ensure that power is available when consumers need it. Many hydropower facilities, however, require upgrades to become more efficient or better integrated with other renewable energy sources.The Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives Program, managed by DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, provides USD 553.6 million in incentive payments to enhance existing hydropower facilities through capital improvements directly related to three main areas: grid resiliency, dam safety, and environmental improvements.The Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives Program, also managed by GDO, provides a total of USD 75 million in incentive payments to owners or operators of existing hydroelectric facilities who may apply for funding to make capital improvements that can increase efficiency by at least 3%.
The US Department of Energy has issued a Request for Information seeking public feedback to inform the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s nearly USD 630 million in investments in hydropower facilities. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests in the “Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives” and “Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives” programs to modernize the nation’s hydropower facilities and produce clean, affordable power. The funding will cover capital improvement projects that will make hydropower facilities more energy efficient and resilient. Water is a critical resource for generating clean, carbon-free electricity and crucial to reaching President Biden’s goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. Hydropower facilities, which use the flow of moving water to generate electricity, currently supply 6% of all electricity in the United States and account for 32% of renewable-electricity generation. Hydropower also provides critical energy storage, accounting for 93% of all utility-scale energy storage, helping to ensure that power is available when consumers need it. Many hydropower facilities, however, require upgrades to become more efficient or better integrated with other renewable energy sources.The Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives Program, managed by DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, provides USD 553.6 million in incentive payments to enhance existing hydropower facilities through capital improvements directly related to three main areas: grid resiliency, dam safety, and environmental improvements.The Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives Program, also managed by GDO, provides a total of USD 75 million in incentive payments to owners or operators of existing hydroelectric facilities who may apply for funding to make capital improvements that can increase efficiency by at least 3%.
