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  Hydrokinetic News

Senators offer plan to boost US hydropower by 75,000MW

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski says the right incentives could open up 200 hydropower development projects in her state alone

Two pieces of legislation were introduced to Congress yesterday seeking more federal support for hydropower projects.

Alaska’s US Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced the Hydropower Improvement Act and the Hydropower Renewable Energy Development Act.

The bills propose extra funding for hydropower projects through grants and tax credits, make it easier to secure permits for new projects and boost research and development.

Senator Murkowski said: “Hydropower is one of our greatest untapped resources for generating clean, renewable electricity.”

Bills

The Hydropower Improvement Act aims to increase the capacity of the nation’s hydropower sources by up to 75,000 megawatts.

It proposes a competitive grants program and requires the US Department of Energy to come up with a research, development and demonstration plan for to increase hydropower capacity.

The bill also allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to streamline the permit process for hydropower projects, and seeks to open up federal land for hydropower developments.

The Hydropower Renewable Energy Development Act aims to make more hydropower projects eligible for federal Production Tax Credits and the Clean Renewable Energy Bonds program.

It is being co-sponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).

Hydropower supplies 7% of the nation’s power and 24% of Alaska’s electricity needs. The Republican Senator from Alaska suggested there were 200 additional sites in her state that looked “promising” for further hydropower development.

This approach focuses on new technologies and new approaches, not necessarily new dams” - Linda Church Ciocci, National Hydropower Association

Sen Murkowski said: “As the Senate turns its attention to energy legislation, I hope we can finally recognize the important contribution hydropower, as a truly renewable resource, can provide to our clean energy goals.”

Industry

The hydropower industry applauded the proposals from the bipartisan group of senators, claiming the measures should help to create 1.4 million jobs nationwide over the next 15 years.

Linda Church Ciocci, executive director of the National Hydropower Association, said the legislation proposed would help make existing hydro resources more efficient, convert existing dams to generate electricity and support both small conduit technologies and pumped storage project development.

“This approach focuses on new technologies and new approaches, not necessarily new dams,” she explained.

The industry association said support for federal research and development programs and worker training efforts would ensure the US will continue to bring new technology to market.

Ms Ciocci added that her organization hoped Congress would provide long-term incentives to create the “stable investment environment developers need to expand America’s hydropower resources”.