Hydropower – A New Look at Opportunities for America’s First Renewable Energy Resource
Channel: eesionline
Date: 2019-04-25

More information at: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/042419hydropower

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and National Hydropower Association (NHA) invite you to a briefing on the role of hydropower in meeting U.S. climate and electric grid reliability and resiliency goals. 

Speakers:

Jeffrey Leahey, Deputy Executive Director, National Hydropower Association
Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Jeff_Leahey_042419.pdf
Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/L63w9J0BYGo?t=6m56s

Suzanne Grassell, Governmental Affairs Program Manager, Chelan County Public Utility District
Download Slides: hhttps://www.eesi.org/files/Suzanne_Grassell_04219.pdf
Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/L63w9J0BYGo?t=21m15s

Chuck Sensiba, Partner, Troutman Sanders
Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Charles_Sensiba_042419.pdf
Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/L63w9J0BYGo?t=33m17s

Matt Swindle, CEO, NLine Energy
Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Matthew_Swindle_042419.pdf
Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/L63w9J0BYGo?t=47m11s

Lori Pickford, Principal, The Ferguson Group
Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Lori_Pickford_042419.pdf
Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/L63w9J0BYGo?t=1h01m36s

Paul Gay, Vice President, Strategic Marketing Innovations (SMI)
Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Paul_Gay_0424519.pdf
Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/L63w9J0BYGo?t=1h10m49s

Question & Answer Session
https://youtu.be/L63w9J0BYGo?t=1h20m48s

In 2018, hydropower was the largest generator of renewable electricity in the United States. Beyond the benefit of providing clean, renewable energy generation, hydropower and pumped storage can also be a strategic partner for other, variable renewable energy resources. Pairing hydropower with wind and solar can help them achieve greater penetration and integration while optimizing grid performance.

Opportunities to upgrade and expand the existing hydro fleet, and for new project development, are available across the country. However, challenges holding the industry back from fully realizing this growth, including lack of valuation of hydropower’s benefits in energy and environmental markets and policy; regulatory uncertainty; and disparities in tax policy support.

This briefing will examine the energy, environmental and grid benefits hydropower (and other waterpower technologies, such as pumped storage, conduit power and marine energy) provides, as well as the policy changes needed to sustain hydropower projects and promote continued deployment. For more information, please see NHA’s newly released report: Reinvigorating Hydropower: A cornerstone of our, clean, affordable, reliable electric future.