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At the time of National Hydropower Association’s (NHA) founding in 1983, the conventional capacity of U.S. hydropower was 68.93 GW. Since then, the total generating capacity of hydropower grew to 80.58 GW, a 16.9% increase that now encompasses 2,252 hydropower plants producing 28.7% of the United States’ renewable energy and 6.2% of all electricity in 2022.
While NHA and hydro has grown over the years, the Association’s mission of championing waterpower as America’s premier renewable energy source has remained the same. Part of advocating for hydropower involves celebrating its history, a reoccurring theme best embodied in the dedicated Hydro Heritage Center, which debuted last year at Clean Currents in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Hydro Heritage Center is a space where the hydropower industry can celebrate its rich history, and the Center returns this year to Clean Currents in Portland, Oregon, from October 7 – 10. To help ensure the Center is robust and engaging, NHA is looking for contributions of artifacts, photographs, videos, or anything telling a story about either a project or the people who helped electrify the nation with hydropower.
This year, NHA will use the Hydro Heritage Center to highlight Reddy Kilowatt, the mascot many electric companies used over the decades to educate the public about electricity while it was rolled out across the United States. Any examples of how your organization has used Reddy Kilowatt and/or other mascots through print, television, physical signs, toys, or even a “life-size” cutout for attendees to pose for pictures with would be a fun addition to the Hydro Heritage Center.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Contributions must be brought or shipped to the Portland Convention Center for Clean Currents and be removed at the end of the event.
Please let Diane Lear (diane@hydro.org) know if you will participate.
