The Department of Energy (DOE), under the Biden-Harris Administration, announced an initiative to upgrade 293 hydroelectric facilities in 33 states.
The projects, supported by up to $430 million in incentive payments, are part of the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives program, which the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds.
These upgrades aim to enhance grid resilience, dam safety, and environmental improvements to hydropower facilities and protect 6,000 jobs in the hydropower industry.
The Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives program administered by the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will enhance dam safety and improve grid resilience at 215 facilities.
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Jennifer M.Granholm, the US Secretary of Energy, said, “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.”
She added, “Today’s funding will expand and modernize our hydropower fleet, while protecting thousands of American jobs.”
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Hydropower, a renewable energy source in the US, currently generates nearly 27% of renewable electricity generation and 93% of utility-scale energy storage.
These projects will involve enhancing turbines, generators, control systems, and infrastructure that are essential for water management.
The initiative promotes environmental sustainability by facilitating projects that improve wildlife habitats and enhance water quality around dams.
Additionally, water quality projects will focus on deploying special turbines to reduce oxygen depletion in the water, which will benefit downstream habitats.
These investments are in line with the President’s Justice40 initiative, aiming to ensure that 40% of the benefits from federal investments in climate action and clean energy are directed towards disadvantaged communities.