Federal agencies sign hydropower agreement

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers joined the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Reclamation in signing an interagency memorandum of understanding today during a ceremony on National Hydropower Day. The agencies agree to collaborate on common issues and leverage resources to further the nation's hydropower generation.

Ryan A. Fisher, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works); Brenda Burman, Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation; and Daniel R. Simmons, Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy, signed today's agreement during the ceremony held at the Hoover Dam Visitor Center in Nevada.

The agencies, in partnership with the Power Marketing Agencies, agree to create an action plan designed to adapt hydropower to the changing energy landscape. The action plan will focus on developing projects and activities using data driven, risk-based decision-making and consider projects in the areas of asset management, improving the value of hydropower, workforce training, water supply reliability, and environmental outcomes.

"This agreement will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through its Civil Works mission to continue its partnership with federal and industry partners as we work together to enhance and manage our nation's hydropower program," said Fisher.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydropower Program is the largest generator of hydropower in the nation, with 75 power-producing dams housing 356 individual generating units. USACE's hydropower assets generate more than 70 billion kilowatt hours per year of clean renewable energy, or enough clean energy to power 10 cities the size of Seattle.

Additional information is available at https://www.usbr.gov/power/SignedHydropowerMOU.pdf.

SOURCE United States Army Corps of Engineers