On 24 August 2021, the energy sector celebrated hydropower's undeniable contributions to America's clean energy infrastructure, electrical grid resiliency and reliability benefits, and environmental protections.

Accounting for more than 7% of U.S. power generation, hydropower will be a significant part of the country’s energy future. In 2020, total U.S. conventional hydroelectricity net summer generation capacity was 80,000 megawatts (MW) and about 22,000 MW of total pumped-storage hydroelectric generating capacity in 18 states. DOE’s Hydropower Vision analysis finds that U.S. hydropower could grow to nearly 101 gigawatts (GW) of capacity by 2050. This could lead to savings of $209 billion from avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, of which $185 billion would be attributable to operation of the existing hydropower fleet.

View the National Hydropower Day Virtual Q&A with representatives from the Department of Energy, National Hydropower Association, Western Area Power Administration, Bonneville Power Administration, Southwestern Power Administration, and Southeastern Power Administration.