Three hydropower facilities in the state of New York were selected this week to provide renewable energy during the first phase of New York's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).

The hydropower facilities, which were all upgraded within the past few years, are owned by Brascan Power. The projects generate enough pollution-free, reliable electricity to meet the yearly energy needs of approximately 33,000 homes.

"By including a role for hydropower in its RPS, New York has ensured that the goals of its program - providing more clean, reliable, and domestic energy to its energy consumers - will be met more effectively, and met sooner rather than later. What's more, it's a solid recognition of hydropower's many benefits," stated Linda Church Ciocci, executive director of NHA.

The RPS, administered through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), is designed to increase the amount of renewable electricity sold in the state to 25 percent by 2013. The RPS, which will take effect January 1, 2006, was implemented on September 24, 2004 by New York's Public Service Commission.

The three Brascan hydropower facilities selected by NYSERDA to provide renewable energy to New York energy consumers are: the 17-megawatt Browns Falls station on the Oswegatchie River, the 6.1-megawatt Higley station on the Raquette River, and the 56-megawatt Spier Falls station on the Hudson River.

Less than three percent of the nation's 75,000 dams are used to generate hydroelectricity. The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that as much as 21,000 megawatts of hydropower capacity sits unused at existing hydropower facilities and non-hydropower dams - enough power for eight cities the size of Seattle or enough power for the state of Virginia. It is enough yearly power for 6.9 million homes. Developing this capacity would also result in the avoidance of 42 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year.

Of the 21,000 MW identified by DOE, 4,300 MW of new hydropower could be achieved by simply further developing the nation's existing hydropower infrastructure through efficiency improvements and capacity additions. This development is known as "incremental hydropower."

RPS proposals throughout the states have varied on hydropower's role. RPS proposals debated in the U.S. Congress over the past few years have included incremental hydropower in the definition of qualifying renewable resources. The RPS debate is expected to take place in the 109th Congress during efforts to adopt comprehensive energy legislation.

"While including incremental hydropower in a renewable portfolio standard is a solid step in the right direction, policymakers would be wise to include development at non-hydro dams, as well as new, non-conventional hydropower technologies, such as free-flow or kinetic hydropower. By doing so, they will ensure that the U.S. fully taps into the enormous potential of its valuable renewable resources," said Ciocci.