The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda Will Support 293 Projects Across 33 States to Improve Hydroelectric Facilities, Increase Dam Safety, Mitigate Fish and Wildlife Impacts, and Increase Access to Affordable, Carbon-free Electricity.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of 293 hydroelectric improvement projects across 33 states that will receive up to $430 million in incentive payments to upgrade hydropower facilities – in operation for an average of 79 years. Administered by the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives program will enhance dam safety, improve grid resilience at 215 facilities, and protect 6,000 existing jobs at hydropower facilities as well as contractors and vendors.
“As our earliest form of renewable energy generation, hydropower has reliably kept America running for almost 150 years—and the Biden-Harris Administration is ensuring these long-standing facilities can continue the steady flow of clean power,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said. “Today’s funding will expand and modernize our hydropower fleet while protecting thousands of American jobs.”
Hydropower currently accounts for nearly 27% of renewable electricity generation in the United States, as well as 93% of all utility-scale energy storage. However, many facilities are aging and need repair and upgrades.
The Investing in America agenda supports capital improvements directly related to three main areas: improving grid resilience, improving dam safety, and enabling environmental and recreational improvements to hydropower facilities. Within DOE’s portfolio and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these incentives are complemented by two additional programs: Hydroelectric Production Incentives for electricity generated and sold by qualified hydroelectric facilities; and Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives for increasing power generation from existing hydropower plants.
The selected projects aim to:
Strengthen grid resilience at hydropower dams by replacing or upgrading turbines and generators; upgrading control systems; upgrading cables and transformers; upgrading penstocks that transport water to turbines.
Improve dam safety through infrastructure upgrades against extreme weather events including emergency spillway enhancements; concrete replacement to prevent water seepage; water conveyance repairs; gate upgrades; overtopping prevention measures; erosion repairs on dams.
Facilitate environmental and recreational improvements such as fish passage installations like fish ladders or other equipment enabling aquatic species passage through dams or turbines; special turbines reducing oxygen loss during electricity generation improving downstream habitats benefiting species important to Indian Tribes culturally significant or conservation concerns. Recreational projects include expanding water access for boating or kayaking activities enhancing walking trails near dams.
These investments also advance President Biden's Justice40 Initiative aiming for 40% overall benefits from federal climate clean energy affordable sustainable housing flowing towards disadvantaged communities marginalized underinvested overburdened pollution impacts
The full list selections available online Grid Deployment Office hosting public webinar September11th2024from1to130pmET Registration required
DOE anticipates releasing second round Maintaining Enhancing Hydroelectric Incentives next calendar year
Learn more about Grid Deployment Office
###