PLACEHOLDER FOR FULL PAGE IMAGE Hydropower Industry
Potential
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PLACEHOLDER FOR LARGE IMAGE Hydro Myths The countrys hydro
resources are tapped out. Hydro is not cost-effective. Hydro is
only available in places like the Northwest. Development and
stewardship are not compatible. All U.S. hydro plants are huge.
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The Facts 2
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3 Hydropower is available it is the largest source of renewable
electricity generation in the U.S., and made up 7% of overall power
generation in 2009. U.S. Renewable Power Generation, 2009
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4 Key Characteristics of the Hydro Fleet Size (Capacity)
Distribution of Currently Operating Units The majority of
hydropower facilities are small. Only 3% of U.S. dams generate
electricity there is significant room for growth without building
new infrastructure. Hydropower is generated in every region and
benefits every state, employing up to 300,000 workers around the
U.S.
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5 80,000 Dams Across the U.S. Source: USACE, ORNL
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pre 1900 Build Time 1900 - 1929 1930 - 1939 1940 - 1949 1950 -
1969 1970 - 1989 1990 - 2008 19 th Century Hydropower Early 20th
Century Hydropower Depression Era HydropowerWWII Hydropower
ConstructionPost-War Hydropower DevelopmentLate 20 th Century
Hydropower Development Hydropower Development since 1990 The U. S.
Hydropower Fleet BUILDING THE FLEET Sources: ORNL, NID 6
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Hydropower Potential 7
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Hydropower can grow significantly without adding new dams.
Conduit technology Modernizing existing dams. Converting non-
powered dams. 8 Marine and hydrokinetic technologies.
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9 Future Capacity Source: Navigant Consulting Hydro Capacity
Growth by Technology With the right policies in place, the U.S.
could add 60,000 MW of new hydro capacity by 2025, the vast
majority of which can be created without adding new dams.
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10 DOE/ORNL: Major Growth Opportunity
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Non-Powered Dam Potential With Other Renewables Non-Powered Dam
Potential exists in areas with less than ideal wind and solar
resources Water availability, particularly for regulated rivers, is
NOT correlated with wind availability (combined firming of
capacity) Wind & Solar Maps: NREL
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12 1.4 million Potential Jobs by 2025 Direct Jobs Indirect Jobs
Cumulative Job Creation by 2025 under a 25% RES Source: Navigant
Consulting, 2009
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13 Hydropower Benefits
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14 Hydropower is clean and sustainable. The hydropower industry
is committed to better understanding and mitigating the impacts
dams can have on local ecosystems and fish. Hundreds of millions of
dollars are invested each year in environmental enhancements at
hydro facilities. Using hydropower avoided approximately 196
million metric tons of U.S. carbon pollution in 2009 equal to
emissions from approximately 38 million cars.
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15 Hydropower supports the electric grid. Hydropower is a
flexible and reliable electricity source. Hydropowers ability to
dispatch power immediately makes it an essential back-up during
major electricity disruptions. [During the blackout,] one
relatively large island remained in operation serving about 5,700
MW of demand, mostly in western New York, anchored by the Niagara
and St. Lawrence hydro plants. US-Canada Power System Outage Task
Force report, 2005 [During the blackout,] one relatively large
island remained in operation serving about 5,700 MW of demand,
mostly in western New York, anchored by the Niagara and St.
Lawrence hydro plants. US-Canada Power System Outage Task Force
report, 2005 Grid support services include Frequency Control
Regulation Load Following Spinning Reserve Supplemental
Reserve
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16 Hydropower is an affordable, scalable form of energy
storage. The U.S. has more than 20GW of pumped storage capacity
today, with facilities in every region of the country. Developers
have proposed an additional 31GW. Hydropower pumped storage is one
of the few large-scale, affordable means of storing and deploying
electricity. Absorbs excess generation at times of low demand, and
releases it during peak demand periods. An excellent partner for
intermittent renewable electricity sources.
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17 The National Landscape
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18 Hydropower has bipartisan, multi-region support. Hydropower
Improvement Act of 2011 co-sponsors include Sens. Murkowski (R-AK)
and Bingaman (D-NM) and seven other Senators, Republicans and
Democrats. H.R. 795, the Small-Scale Hydropower Enhancement Act was
introduced by Rep. Adrian Smith, had bipartisan co-sponsorship, and
passed out of the House Natural Resources committee unanimously.
Incentives for hydropower and marine and hydrokinetic technologies
championed by both parties. Consensus in the 111 th Congress for
inclusion of hydropower in various policies.
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19 Bipartisan support With thousands of existing dams currently
not creating any power, existing dams in need of upgrades, and new
technologies being developed to safely capture river currents, an
additional 60,000 more megawatts is achievable within the next 15
years. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Ed Markey
(D-MA) In todays environment where talk centers on the need to
provide clean and environmentally friendly energy we must continue
to promote and expand the use of hydropower. House Natural
Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) Hydropower is one
of our greatest untapped resources for generating clean, renewable
electricity. - Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R- AK) Theres 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.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu
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20 Hydropower projects are underway around the country,
bringing new jobs and low-cost electricity to many states.
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PLACEHOLDER FOR LARGE IMAGE Hydro Projects Waiting in Line 21
Applications/Exemptions Filed: 46 projects, 3,000+ MW, 27 states
Preliminary Permits Issued: 374 projects, 44,000+ MW, 44 states
Preliminary Permits Pending: 302 projects, 37,000+ MW, 29 states
The FERC Pipeline Tops 85,000 MW across 722 projects
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22 Hydropower Priorities
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23 Helping the U.S. meet renewable energy goals. NHA supports a
CES goal of generating 80% of Americas electricity from clean and
renewable energy a goal achievable only with a significant role for
hydropower. Meeting that goal requires: A more efficient regulatory
process Economic incentives to support project development A
national clean and renewable electricity standard Research and
development
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24 The Regulatory Process Hydro Regulatory Process FERC Federal
Regula- tors Tribes State Agencies Local Govern- ments NGOsPublic
Hydropower development involves a comprehensive but sometimes
redundant regulatory approval process that needs better
coordination and cooperation between participants.
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25 Making the regulatory process more efficient includes:
Facilitating private hydropower development on Army Corps of
Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation Facilities An expedited
licensing process for hydropower development at non-powered dams
and closed loop pumped storage projects, that takes no more than
two years. Support for small hydro and conduit power developers, so
that the regulatory process provides assistance and is not a
disincentive to project development.
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26 Economic Incentives will speed development. Equalizing the
production tax credit for hydropower. Currently hydropower receives
only half the credit available to other renewable energy sources.
Allowing energy storage, specifically pumped hydro storage, to
qualify for the ITC and CREBs (Clean Renewable Energy Bonds)
Program. Expanding our nations energy storage capacity is essential
to ensuring a secure and stable grid as well as integrating more
renewable energy. Straightforward updates to existing renewable
energy tax credit programs should be enacted:
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27 Long term extension of existing programs such as the PTC and
ITC is needed, along with additional funding for oversubscribed
programs such as CREBs and the 48C ITC for renewable energy
equipment manufacturers. Hydropower project development can have
high upfront costs and long lead times. Though cost-effective over
the life of the project, utilities, developers and investors need
certainty. NHA strongly supports existing renewable
incentives:
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28 A Clean and Renewable Electricity Standard Existing
hydropower generation should be counted if generation from other
clean resources qualifies (wind, nuclear, etc.) Hydropower should
be treated equitably in comparison to other existing resources.
Energy storage, specifically pumped hydro storage, will play a
critical role to firm and integrate intermittent resources and
increase their contribution to the CES goal. The CES should include
a mechanism to provide recognition of clean generation from pumped
storage projects both existing and new. A Clean Energy Standard is
a different policy paradigm than the Renewable Energy Standard. As
such, the treatment and recognition of hydropower must be
re-evaluated. That includes:
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29 Research and Development President Obamas proposed FY 2012
budget increases DOE spending for all types of renewable energy
with the exception of the Water Power program, with a proposed
budget reduction of over 20%. Congress must continue to invest, not
retreat, on R&D funding for the next generation of hydropower
and MHK technologies to achieve the countrys vision for clean
energy deployment. As the Congress debates budget priorities,
funding for hydropower R&D remains imperative.
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30 Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director, National Hydropower
Association [email protected] Ph. 202.682.1700 Ryan Cunningham,
Senior Vice President, Glover Park Group [email protected] ph.
202.295.0164 Roger Ballentine, President, GreenStrategies
[email protected] ph. 202.328.1123 Contacts