This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.
June 30, 2009
Obama Administration Announces up to $32 Million Initiative to Expand Hydropower
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on June 30 up to $32 million in Recovery Act funding to modernize the existing hydropower infrastructure in the U.S., increase efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. Today’s announcement is designed to support the deployment of turbines and control technologies to increase power generation and environmental stewardship at existing non-federal hydroelectric facilities.
“There’s no one solution to the energy crisis, but hydropower is clearly part of the solution and represents a major opportunity to create more clean energy jobs,” said Secretary Chu. “Investing in our existing hydropower infrastructure will strengthen our economy, reduce pollution and help us toward energy independence.”
Secretary Chu also noted another key benefit of hydropower: potential hydro energy can be stored behind dams and released when it is most needed. Therefore, improving our hydro infrastructure can help to increase the utilization and economic viability of intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Secretary Chu is committed to further developing pumped storage technology to harness these advantages.
Today’s funding opportunity announcement under the Recovery Act will be competitively awarded to a variety of non-federal hydropower projects that can be developed without significant modifications to dams and with a minimum of regulatory delay.
Projects will be selected in two areas:
Letters of intent are due July 22, 2009, and completed applications are due August 20, 2009. The complete Funding Opportunity Announcement can be viewed by selecting "Search Public Opportunities" on the FedConnect Web site, changing the search criteria to "reference number," and searching for reference number DE-FOA-0000120. Projects are expected to begin in fiscal year 2010.
