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Critical federal funding revitalizes research program
Contact:
Angel Brownawell
202-682-1700, ext. 14
WASHINGTON DC (June 6, 2007) – With a recommitment to the nation’s development of hydropower energy and technologies, the House Appropriations Committee today recommended allocating $22 million – its largest recommendation for hydropower in decades – to the Department of Energy’s Hydropower Research and Development Research program.
“The National Hydropower Association commends the efforts of the Energy and Water Subcommittee and the Appropriations Committee for bringing funding back into the budget and to the committee’s dedication to advancing the development of conventional hydropower and promoting the growth of the new technologies,” said Linda Church Ciocci, executive director of the National Hydropower Association. “The committee has recognized that hydropower’s contribution to national energy supply can and should grow. We look forward to working with the members to ensure that this funding remains intact as the budget process continues.”
The $22 million for Fiscal Year 2008 included in the approximate $3.2 billion energy spending bill allows for critical research and development of hydropower and its emerging technologies, including ocean, tidal and instream hydrokinetic systems.
The committee recommends
- $4 million for environmental studies for conventional and new waterpower technologies
- $6 million for research, development and deployment of the new technologies
- $7 million for the advanced turbine program
- $5 million for hydropower resource assessments at existing dams
“This is not only a significant victory for the hydropower industry, but also for the nation and its efforts to use more clean, renewable energy,” Church Ciocci said. “Federal investment in hydropower research has led to remarkable innovations within the industry. This funding will continue to help us find more efficient ways to create power from a vast resource.”
This is the largest budget recommendation by the Appropriations Committee in decades. Hydropower received no federal funding the past two years. Interest in the energy source has been renewed as hydropower is increasingly recognized as an important technology in contributing to the climate change solution and our nation’s clean energy generation portfolio.
A recently released report by the Electric Power Research Institute estimates hydropower can add at least another 23,000 megawatts by the year 2025, with a total growth potential of nearly 90,000 megawatts. That estimated potential comes from improved turbine efficiency, new energy facilities on existing non-powered dams and new waterpower technologies.
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