Office: Grid Deployment Office
Funding amount: $553,600,000
Period of Availability: Available until expended
Funding Mechanism: Incentive Payment
New Program: Yes
Recipients:
Non-Federal owners of qualified hydroelectric facilities that meet the following qualifications:
- Qualifying Facilities
- FERC licensed and placed in service before enactment of this section
- Is in compliance with all applicable Federal, Tribal, and State requirements; or would be brought into compliance as a result of the capital improvements.
Description: The Maintaining & Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives – or Section 247 program – is designed to support and enhance existing hydropower facilities through Gid Resilience, Dam Safety, and Environmental Improvements. Incentive payments shall not exceed 30% of the costs of the applicable capital, improvement, and not more than $5M will be provided to any facility in any Fiscal Year.
Eligible Uses: Incentives are provided projects, which Department of Energy determines is eligible, in three categories: (1) improving grid resiliency; (2) improving dam safety; and (3) environmental improvements.
Each category includes:
- Improving Grid Resiliency
- Adapting more quickly to changing grid conditions
- Providing ancillary services
- Integrating other variable sources of electricity generation
- Managing accumulated reservoir sediments
- Improving Dam Safety
- Maintenance or upgrade of spillways or other appurtenant structures
- Dam stability improvements, including erosion repair and enhanced seepage controls
- Upgrades or replacements of floodgates or natural infrastructure restoration
- Environmental Improvements
- Adding or improving safe & effective fish passage
- Improving quality of water retained or released by a qualified hydroelectric facility
- Promoting downstream sediment transport processes and habitat maintenance
- Improving Recreation access to project vicinity
Program Announcements: Download the Request For Information or Read the Press Release
Next Milestone: Estimated application opening date, TBD