Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress for the first time directed funding to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives Program. The program was first authorized by Section 243 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 but was never previously funded.
Section 40332 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized DOE to provide $75 million in incentive payments for Section 243: Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives Program. Owners or operators of existing hydroelectric facilities, including pumped storage hydropower, may apply for funding to make capital improvements that can improve their efficiency by at least 3%.
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Selections
On February 2, 2024, DOE announced the selection of 46 efficiency improvement projects across 19 states to receive up to $71.5 million in Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentive payments. The selected projects can be found in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. See the full list of selected entities.
Additional Resources
- Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Application Guidance
- Hydropower Facility Efficiency Increase Tool (Metric)
- Hydropower Facility Efficiency Increase Tool (Imperial)
- Frequently Asked Questions on Section 243: Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives Program
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