The expanded hydro generation projects will have estimated incremental costs of less than 4 cents a kilowatt hour on average.

Facility operators will deploy innovative technologies such as high-efficiency, fish-friendly turbines, improved water intakes and advanced control systems, says Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

“One of the best opportunities we have to increase our supply of clean energy is by bringing our hydropower systems into the 21st Century,” he says.

“With this investment, we can create jobs, help our environment and give more renewable power to our economy without building a single new dam,” he adds.

DOE sought cost-shared projects that upgrade existing hydropower facilities without requiring significant civil works modifications to dams, allowing for them to be developed quickly to help create jobs and stimulate the local economy.

The solicitation sought two classes of projects: those larger than 50 megawatts of installed capacity and those of 50MW or smaller.

The selected projects will increase generation by an estimated 187,000 megawatt hours a year, enough to meet the annual electric usage of more than 12,000 homes.

This incremental generation is virtually carbon free, and it represents a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of over 110,000 tons a year compared to electricity from the average U.S. grid, according to Chu.

The following projects have been selected for negotiation of awards for the amount listed:

Project upgrades at units larger than 50MW

*Alabama Power Company, Mitchell, Alabama, up to $6m. The project will raise efficiency and upgrade four units at three hydroelectric plants on the Coosa River by replacing 1940s to 1960s vintage turbines with new high-efficiency stainless steel ones that maximize each unit’s ability to utilize the limited available water. Power generation will increase 7.3%.

*Alcoa, Robbinsville, North Carolina, up to $13m. The project will replace four 90-year-old Francis turbines with four new high-efficiency stainless steel turbines, generators, and transformers, providing an additional 22 MW of generating capacity at Alcoa’s Tapoco Cheoah plant. Power generation will increase 23%.

*City of Tacoma, up to $4.67m, for a project in Potlach, Washington state. Project will add two 1.8 MW Francis turbines to the existing 81MW Cushman No. 2 Dam. Power generation will increase 14%.

Project upgrades at units less than 50MW

*City of Boulder, Colorado, up to $1.18m. The project will upgrade the 100 year-old Boulden Canyon hydro facility by replacing two older turbines with a single, high-efficiency unit. Hazardous asbestos will be removed.

**Energy Northwest, Packwood, Washington, up to $800,000. The project will design, manufacture, and install a new state-of-the-art Pelton Wheel turbine at the Packwood Lake Hydroelectric facility.

*County of Los Alamos, New Mexico, up to $4.56m. This project will add a new turbine/generator to boost output by 3MW at a hydroelectric plant in Abiquiu. The project’s environmental benefits include higher dissolved oxygen content in downstream water and increased minimum flows. Power generation will increase 23%.

*North Little Rock Electric Department, Arkansas, up to $450,000. This project will install an automated intake maintenance device at its 39MW hydroelectric facility on the Arkansas River to clear debris currently obstructing the intake. It will allow the facility to operate consistently at near peak efficiency and significantly reduce the high cost of dredging.