The United States of America wants to invest millions in the promotion of hydropower and marine energy projects. With this investment, America aims to build an energy system or facilities that are clean and cheap. The US DOE commits to putting aside a staggering $430 million for construction works in 33 American states
How will America intend to promote hydropower
Ecoticias.com recently reported that the American Department of Energy has set aside dollars to the tune of $33 million to empower and promote hydropower and marine energy projects, thus emphasizing their significance in increasing the country’s renewable energy mix.
This comes because 27% of hydropower is and remains a main source of renewable energy in the US as it generates the country’s renewable electricity production. However, if still operating most of the US hydropower assets are almost 79 years old, a need for the so-called modernization of infrastructure is obvious.
In looking to improve the infrastructure, the US DOE, therefore, commits to putting aside a staggering $430 million for construction works in 33 American states which will address the problem of dilapidated infrastructure.
“This activity has the objective of refurbishing efficient and resilient systems and components in the hydropower plants like turbines, transformers and control systems so that these plants can operate efficiently even during extreme weather conditions,” reports the publication focusing on energy matters.
“These improvements are made to enhance stability and reliability of the grid and are expected to lessen the chances of blackouts occurring and facilitate the adoption of renewable energy sources.”
America Targets Green conversation
With the progress in upgrading hydropower facilities in America not only focusing on increasing generation capacity, it is also about putting more effort into the ecological aspects to reduce adverse effects.
It has come to the attention of The Moment that every dam built in the country has a barrier to the free movement of local fauna, which is why the DOE has implemented 60 environmental programs.
On top of that, fish passage structures, which enable fish and other aquatic organisms to avoid dams and migrate without interference are very important and are given the necessary attention.
Meanwhile, the newest generation of turbines resolves the problem of downstream oxygen depletion, an adverse effect common with turbine designs that endangers fish and other aquatic organisms.
“These development turbines are efficient in controlling the decline of oxygen levels and therefore improve the habitat for fish and other organisms, which is critical for balanced ecological systems,” added the website.
“This initiative consists of over $430 million provided by the Department of Energy and an additional $2.38 billion raised from the private sector all in the quest for a more environmentally friendly energy structure.
“The DOE capital injection in hydro and marine energy is a significant milestone in the development of a cleaner, more dependable power.”
Egy.gov added that outgoing U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said as their earliest form of renewable energy generation, hydropower has reliably kept America running for almost 150 years – and the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris Administration is ensuring these long-standing facilities can continue the steady flow of clean power.
“Today’s funding will expand and modernize our hydropower fleet while protecting thousands of American jobs,” she said.
With the projects administered by the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives program will empower dam safety, improve grid resilience at 215 facilities, as well as help in the conservation of 6,000 existing jobs at hydropower facilities as well as contractors and vendors.