Hydropower Industry Leaders Bring Energy Solutions to Capitol Hill

A distinguished group of executives representing diverse sectors of the hydropower industry gathered in Washington, DC on March 2-4 to inform Members of Congress, Obama Administration officials, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission leaders about the unique ways hydropower can help America meet its energy, environmental, and economic goals.

To learn more about the NHA Executive Leadership Forum, please read this statement.

NHA Applauds Secretary Chu's Comments on Pumped Storage

NHA praises Energy Secretary Steven Chu for his comments that the country must "invest heavily in pumped-storage," a type of hydropower facility that stores energy and can firm intermittent renewable energy resources such as wind and solar power. Chu's delivered his comments at the Center for American Progress Clean Energy Project's Building the New Economy event in Washington, D.C., yesterday. The event featured remarks from a high-profile panel that included former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and others.

For more information about Secretary Chu's comments, please read NHA's statement.

Stimulus Bill Energizes Hydropower Development

The signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the stimulus bill) offers new opportunities to grow the economy and help put Americans back to work with good paying green jobs. Growing clean, domestic hydropower will help America achieve its economic, energy, and environmental goals. The stimulus bill includes a host of incentives long championed by NHA that will advance the industry’s effort to double current capacity and bring 90,000 MW of climate-friendly, renewable energy online within the next generation. NHA thanks all those who supported the measure and looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration to tap the potential of this significant energy resource.

For more information, read NHA's statement on the stimulus bill..

NHA Scholarship Reaches Application Limit

We are delighted that NHA’s Past Presidents’ Legacy Scholarship has received significant interest this year and has reached the maximum number of applicants. Unfortunately, this means that the application period is now closed and a winner will be selected from the applications currently submitted. NHA would like to thank students for their interest and for taking the time and effort to complete the scholarship application process.

We encourage you to consider the scholarship program in the 2009-2010 funding cycle. Those wishing to contribute to the scholarship may send checks to Ms. Pat Halter, Scholarship America, One Scholarship Way, St. Peter, MN 56082. A cover letter stating the scholarship name – NHA Past Presidents’ Legacy Scholarship – should accompany the contributions. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Mark Your Calendar

The National Hydropower Association’s (NHA) 2009 Annual Conference will be held from May 11-13, 2009 at the Capital Hilton Hotel located in Washington, DC.

A new Congress and a new Administration will be settling into Washington...bringing new perspectives on and approaches to water and energy issues. The NHA Annual Conference is your opportunity to connect with what is happening in DC on the water and energy front.  The following questions will be addressed:

• How will the new Administration approach water and energy issues?
• What do the changes in DC mean for hydro?
• What must the industry do to keep hydro in focus as the policy debate moves forward? 

Click here for more details.

NHA Congratulates DOE Clean Tech Water Power Project Winners
The National Hydropower Association congratulates the winners of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Research & Development Clean Technology Water Power Project awards.   Five of the 14 winning projects DOE selected involve NHA member organizations. To learn more, follow this link.

Congress forms Hydropower Caucus
America's largest source of renewable energy now has its own bipartisan caucus in Congress. The Hydropower Caucus will serve as a forum to discuss issues relating to hydropower and educate members of Congress on the multiple benefits that domestic, climate-friendly and renewable hydropower provides to the nation's energy portfolio.

For more information on the Hydropower Caucus, please check out this press release.

About Us
The National Hydropower Association, founded in 1983, is the only trade association
in the United States dedicated exclusively to advancing the interests of hydropower energy in North America. Located in Washington, D.C., NHA is a member-driven association that accomplishes its policy work and outreach through the initiatives of its standing committees.

Hydropower
Is the power of moving water and comes in many forms from conventional to new emerging technologies of ocean, wave, tidal and hydrokinetic energy. Hydropower is a domestic source of clean, renewable, reliable and affordable electricity. It is more than electricity. Hydropower also provides recreational enhancements, flood control, and irrigation. It is an extremely important energy source that has significant growth opportunity in helping the nation meet new energy supply with a reliable and low-emitting, home-grown energy source. Hydropower is clean energy for a secure future.

No other energy source offers so many advantages.