Hydropower Program
Reclamation's New Hydropower Video - Hydropower is a renewable and reliable resource providing clean energy to the western United States. It is the nation's largest renewable energy resource and the Bureau of Reclamation is the second largest producer in the United States. Watch the new Reclamation video on hydropower. Video...
 Partnerships Generate Support for Hydropower Resources - As part of President Obama's all-of-the-above strategy to develop American energy, the Department of the Interior, the Department of the Army, and the Department of Energy have significantly advanced potential development of hydropower generation in the United States, according to a two-year progress report on the implementation of an interagency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on hydropower. More... Report (PDF - 4 MB)
 Additional 1.5 Million Megawatt-hours of Renewable Energy Could Be Generated through Hydropower at Existing Reclamation Sites -As part of President Obama's all-of-the-above strategy for American energy, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Anne Castle announced today that the department has identified 373 existing Bureau of Reclamation canals and conduits that have the combined potential of generating an additional 365,219 megawatt-hours of hydropower annually. News Release, Report
Departments of Energy and Interior Announce $26.6 Million in Funding to Develop Advanced Hydropower Technologies - U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today announced $26.6 million in funding for research and development projects to advance hydropower technology, including pumped storage hydropower. This funding is focused on development of innovative technologies that can produce power more efficiently, reduce costs and increase sustainable hydropower generation at sites not previously considered practical. More...
Hydropower Memorandum of Understanding - A Memorandum of Understanding for Hydropower was signed on March 24, 2010 between the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Army (DOA). The purpose of the MOU is to help meet the Nation's needs for reliable. affordable, and environmentally sustainable hydropower by building a long-term working relationship, prioritizing similar goals, and aligning ongoing and future renewable energy development efforts between DOE, DOI, and DOA through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (Copy of Signed MOU)
Reclamation Issues Temporary Directive and Standard for Lease of Power Privilege Requirements (April 4, 2012) - The Bureau of Reclamation has issued a temporary directive and standard for Reclamation's Lease of Power Privilege requirements and process effective for no longer than one year, expiring on April 4, 2013. These updated guidelines provide a common understanding of how the LOPP process is administered and how Reclamation will enhance working relationships with its project partners.
News Release | Temporary Manual Release
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For More Information:
Hydropower Memorandum of Understanding
A Memorandum of Understanding for Hydropower was signed on March 24, 2010 between the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Army (DOA). The purpose of the MOU is to help meet the Nation's needs for reliable. affordable, and environmentally sustainable hydropower by building a long-term working relationship, prioritizing similar goals, and aligning ongoing and future renewable energy development efforts between DOE, DOI, and DOA through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Hydropower Resource Assessment At Existing Facilities
As a component of the MOU for Hydropower, and recognizing the current national emphasis on renewable energy and its extensive existing water infrastructure systems, Reclamation has produced the Hydropower Resource Assessment at Existing Reclamation Facilities (Resource Assessment) to assess hydropower development at existing facilities to contribute to nationwide renewable energy strategies.
Hydropower Resource Assessment at Exisiting Facilities (Final Report - March 2011)
Site Inventory and Hydropower Energy Assessment of Reclamation Owned Conduits (Supplement to the "Hydropower Resource Assessment at Existing Reclamation Facilities" Report - March 2012)
“Hydropower Energy and Economic Analysis Tool” is an integral feature of the report that is being made available to the public. This tool is a model that allows interested parties to conduct reconnaissance level hydropower assessments with minimal data inputs (location, flow and head).
Lease of Power Privilege
Reclamation has issued a temporary directive and standard for Reclamation's Lease of Power Privilege requirements and process effective for no longer than one year, expiring on April 4, 2013. These updated guidelines provide a common understanding of how the LOPP process is administered and how Reclamation will enhance working relationships with its project partners. This temporary release was updated to reflect comments received during the first comment period of the draft directive and standard. Comments are being accepted on this temporary directive and standard and are due to Reclamation by June 4, 2012 at 5 p.m.
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