NHA Praises Secretary Chu's Vision for Hydropower
The U.S. Department of Energy announced that it will devote up to $32 million of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds to upgrade hydropower projects. These funds are available for non-federal projects focusing on increasing efficiency and environmental performance.

Read the DOE press release and NHA’s response.

NHA Lauds Confirmation of Zoi
The National Hydropower Association congratulates Catherine Zoi on her confirmation as Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy.

Read NHA's press release

FERC, Washington state Sign MOU on Hydrokinetic Development
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the State of Washington have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that coordinates the regulatory reviews of each party with respect to the development of hydrokinetic projects in Washington state waters. Under the MOU, both parties will coordinate enviromental reviews of projects, establish a schedule for processing applications, and notify each other when one becomes aware of a potential applicant.

A press release announcing the MOU is now available.

Western Governors Urge Secretary Chu to Support Pumped Storage
The governors of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington state have sent a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu urging him to fund Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) request to study sites for pumped storage hydropower projects as well as sources of capacity and flexibility in the Pacific Northwest energy grid. The governors cite that energy storage and other balancing measures are needed to integrate wind energy and other intermittent renewables in the region.

Please feel free to read the governors' letter.

New Leadership Team Takes Reins of NHA
Today NHA experienced a change in leadership as new executive committee and board members officially took charge of the organization. Andrew Munro of Grant County Public Utility District in Washington state is the new NHA President. John Dulude of Normandeau Associates is the new Vice President, while David Moller of Pacific Gas & Electric and Duke Energy's Greg Lewis will serve as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.

To find out more about the leadership team, please read this press release

Hydro Green Energy Wins President's Award
Houston-based Hydro Green Energy has won the prestigious President's Award at the 2009 NHA Annual Conference. Last year, Hydro Green Energy's hydrokinetic turbine project in Hastings, MN received the first FERC license in the country for a hydrokinetic project. NHA Executive Director Linda Church Ciocci noted that Hydro Green Energy has opened the door to a new set of hydro technologies.

To learn more, please read NHA's press release

Erica Hanley Receives NHA Past President's Legacy Scholarship
Erica Hanley, a senior at Manhattan College in New York, has won the National Hydropower Association's Past President's Legacy Scholarship. Hanley will pursue a Master's Degree in Hydrological Engineering this fall at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. Through her studies, she hopes to develop a way to use groundwater as a source of drinking water and power generation.

For more information, please read NHA's press release

NHA Congratulates OSAW Winners for Outstanding Stewardship
The National Hydropower Association presented Outstanding Stewards of America's Water Awards to 4 member organizations for excellence in stewardship during a festive ceremony on Capitol Hill. An independent panel of industry, media, and stakeholder representatives awarded New York Power Authority, Puget Sound Energy, and Yuba County Water Agency awards in the environmental, recreational, and historical enhancement categories. TransCanada received an OSAW award for public education.

To learn more about the winning projects, please read this press release.

For detailed information on the winning projects, please visit www.outstandingwaters.org

UPDATE: Hydro Rally on Capitol hill!
NHA Members attending the 2009 Annual Conference have the opportunity to deliver hydro's promise to Congress by participating in NHA's inaugural Congressional Rally. Featuring Hydropower Caucus Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and other keynote speakers, the Congressional Rally promises to be a fun and energetic event that will get you fired up. For more information, please view the rally flyer.

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.

Experts Discuss Hydropower Growth Opportunities

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.