The Hydropower RAPID Toolkit simplifies the regulatory and permitting process.
Video courtesy of the Department of Energy

Sometimes the permitting process feels like you’re up against one rock after another on a frenetic river journey. That’s where the Energy Department can help. With its Hydropower Regulatory and Permitting Information Desktop (RAPID) toolkit, navigating the complex system of federal and state regulations, including the FERC licensing process, to secure project approvals is made easier.

It’s easy-to-use Open Energy Information (OpenEI) wiki-based platform allows users to drill down beyond the FERC process, on all other hydropower authorization processes at the federal, state, and even local level. The Toolkit features an overview of all federal regulations that apply to non-federal hydropower development in all states, as well as documentation for other technologies including solar, geothermal, and transmission.

The Hydropower RAPID Toolkit was developed by a team of regulatory experts from DOE and its national laboratories, led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, with input from stakeholders that can benefit from access to a hydropower permitting roadmap and best-practice documentation. These include:

  • Hydropower permitting agencies
  • Developers
  • Manufacturers
  • Consultants.

Heading to HydroVision in a few weeks? Learn more about the Toolkit by attending any session in the RAPID-sponsored Policies & Regulations track, or stop by the Water Power Technologies Office booth 1618 on Wednesday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. for a demonstration of the Toolkit.