U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced that up to $32 million in funding will be allocated to modernize the existing hydropower infrastructure in the U.S. with the intention of increasing efficiency, and reducing its environmental impact. The 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.”
Hydropower has a further benefit in that power can be stored in dams and used or released when needed.Therefore, improving hydro infrastructure can help to increase the utilization and economic viability of intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
