Sen. Gardner reintroduces legislation to retrofit dams with electricity-generating technology
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) reintroduced this week a bill that would reauthorize an existing Department of Energy (DOE) program that provides funding to retrofit existing dams and river conduits with electricity-generating technology.
“The Reliable Investment in Vital Energy Reauthorization Act (RIVER Act) is commonsense legislation that is a key component to an all-of-the-above energy strategy,” Gardner said.
According to DOE reports, there are as much as 12 gigawatts of unused hydropower development within the existing U.S. dam infrastructure. Only three percent of the nation’s 80,000 dams are used to produce hydroelectric power.
“Senator Gardner understands how important hydropower is to Colorado,” Kurt Johnson, president of the Western Small Hydro Association, said. “Senator Gardner’s RIVER Act will help ensure that Colorado continues as a national leader in new small hydropower development on existing dams, canals and pipelines. We’re excited to support him as he works to get his legislation signed into law.”
Gardner sits on the Energy & Natural Resources Committee and Subcommittee on Energy.
“Since only three percent of the nation’s 80,000 dams are used to generate clean hydroelectric power, it’s important we have the tools to retrofit these existing dams to produce electricity,” Gardner said. “Colorado has been able to utilize this program in the past to bring hydropower to communities across the Western Slope, and I’m looking forward to working with interested stakeholders to bring new hydropower opportunities to more of Colorado.”
