The ability to develop hydropower at existing facilities is an important part of developing our domestic energy resources. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on March 24, 2010 between the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Army (DOA) on hydropower.
As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the 2010 MOU, the Bureau of Reclamation was directed to evaluate development of new hydropower projects at federally-owned facilities. Out of 530 sites studied, 70 sites were found to have the highest Benefit Cost Ratio. The ratio incorporates incentives for developing clean renewable energy available from existing Federal and state programs.
There is also the ability to increase hydropower capacity through efficiencies and upgrades of existing facilities.
