NHA Public Affairs Packet NHA Board Meeting, January 26-27, 2011 Table of Contents This packet contains NHA press releases as well as a representative sampling of articles related to conventional hydropower, pumped storage, and hydrokinetic technologies that have appeared in the press since the last board meeting. NHA press releases appear first followed by articles in chronological order. NHA Press Releases Extension of renewable energy incentive promotes clean energy development and job growth NHA now accepting scholarship applications News Articles Oct. 13 Renewable Energy World (Pages 1-2) Conventional NHA/Member Cited Oct. 13 The Citizen of Laconia, NH (Pg. 3-5) Conventional NHA Members Cited Oct. 14 OPB News, WA/OR (Pg. 6) Conventional NHA Cited Oct. 14 Sustainable Business Oregon, OR (Pg. 7-9) Small Hydro NHA Member Cited Oct. 15 New York Times Greenwire (Pg. 10-14) Pumped Stor. NHA/Members Cited Oct. 20 Renewable Energy World (Pg. 15-17) Conventional NHA Members Cited Oct. 24 Washington Post (Pg. 18-21) Renewables NHA Members Cited Oct. 26 WNED, Buffalo/Toronto (Pg. 22-23) Conventional NHA Member Cited Nov. 1 POWER-GEN (Pg. 24-33) Small Hydro NHA/Members Cited Nov. 8 OPB News, WA/OR (Pg. 34-35) Small Hydro NHA/Members Cited Nov. 10 Solar Home & Bus. Journal (Pg. 36-37) Conventional NHA Member Cited Nov. 17 The Maine Campus, ME (Pg. 38-39) Hydrokinetics NHA Member Cited Nov. 22 HydroWorld (Pg. 40-41) All NHA/Members Cited Nov. 22 Hartford Business Journal, CT (Pg. 42-45) Conventional NHA Member Cited Nov. 25 The Seattle Times, WA (Pg. 46-49) Marine/Tidal NHA Members Cited Dec. 7 Bloomberg (Pg. 50-55) All NHA Members Cited Dec. 23 News Tribune, WA (Pg. 56-57) Conventional Jan. 3 Hydro Review (Pg. 58-60) All NHA/Members Cited Jan. 6 Renewable Energy World (61-62) Conduit Jan. 11 Columbia Basin Herald, WA (63-65) All NHA/Member Cited Jan. 11 ABC News (66-67) All STATEMENT 25 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. ∙ Suite 450 ∙ Washington, D.C., 20001∙202/682-1700∙ www.hydro.org Contact: Kristen Nelson 301/654-2003 ∙ [email protected] For Immediate Release Extension of renewable energy incentive promotes clean energy development and job growth Washington, D.C. (December 17, 2010) – The following is the statement of National Hydropower Association Executive Director Linda Church Ciocci on the passage of a one-year extension of the Section 1603 grants in lieu of tax credit program in the tax bill compromise: “NHA applauds the House and Senate for approving an extension of the Section 1603 program this week. Incentives for hydropower and other renewable energy development are critical for our country to expand generation of clean energy resources and promote the local economic benefits and job creation opportunities associated with these projects.” “NHA looks forward to working with the 112th Congress next year on additional growth policies that were not included in the bill, such as the 48C renewable energy manufacturers investment tax credit, the clean renewable energy bonds (CREBs) program, and other important incentives to drive deployment for conventional hydropower, pumped storage and marine and hydrokinetic resources.” 1 PRESS RELEASE 25 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. ∙ Suite 450 ∙ Washington, D.C., 20001∙202/682-1700∙ www.hydro.org For Immediate Release NHA now accepting scholarship applications Washington, DC (January 10, 2011) –The National Hydropower Association is pleased to announce that it is now taking applications for the 2011 NHA Past Presidents' Legacy Scholarship. The $2,000 scholarship goes to promising young people who demonstrate the academic skills and commitment to help create the next generation of the hydropower industry. Details: Who: Full-time juniors, seniors, or grad students with a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) undergraduate or graduate course of study at an accredited four-year college or university -- or -- students with an equivalent GPA at an accredited vocational technical school or program. Applicant must be pursuing a program of study that is related to the hydropower industry: Engineering, sciences (biology, fisheries, and hydrology), communications, or environmental studies. Application: Available at http://www.hydro.org/2011%20Past%20Presidents%20Scholarship%20App.pdf Deadline: February 15, 2011 Presentation: At the NHA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., in April 2011 Send application to: The National Hydropower Association Past Presidents’ Legacy Scholarship Program Scholarship Management Services One Scholarship Way Saint Peter, MN 56082 Background: NHA created the Past Presidents' Legacy Scholarship in 2008 to encourage students to consider becoming part of the U.S. hydropower industry. The growing industry has professionals in many different fields, including engineering, IT, biology, environmental sciences, forestry, hydrology, animal sciences, management, financial services, communications, and other areas. Many companies also offer high-paying skilled labor and technical positions. 1 Last year's winner, Namratha Gudemaranahalli, a junior at West Virginia University, is pursuing a degree in Biology. Contributions from NHA, the Hydro Research Foundation, organizations throughout the industry, and individual givers fund the NHA Past Presidents' Legacy Scholarship. We encourage everyone who supports the future of clean, renewable, affordable energy to join us in making tax-deductible contributions. Please send contributions to: Ms. Pat Halter Scholarship America One Scholarship Way St. Peter, MN 56082 ### 2 The Power of Rehab: Squeezing More Power From Our Hydroelectric Plants October 13, 2010 At some point, that car you’re driving will need a little restoration work. After some machining work and a few replacement parts, it will run a little smoother, get better gas mileage and go from a rumble to a purr. With the right retooling and equipment, you’ll get a lot more miles and production out of it. With greater significance, the same is true for hydroelectric plants. Many of the hydroelectric plants in North America are more than 50 years old and are in need of rehabilitation. They represent a phenomenal opportunity to increase the production of renewable energy amid deep concern about climate change. Consider this: A simple rehabilitation can increase a hydroelectric plant’s power output by as much as a third. “We can get 20 to 30 percent more power just from modern hydraulics, new runners, new wicket gates and sometimes a modification of the draft tube,” Mark Garner, president and chief executive officer of Voith Hydro, said in an interview. “It really makes a difference.” There are about 2,400 hydropower plants in the U.S. Upgrading those plants with modern technologies could add a significant amount of hydropower capacity to the nation’s power portfolio without building a single dam. 1 “There’s a huge market to further modernize the existing fleet” of hydropower plants, Garner said. A strong national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and other policy initiatives, including a production tax credit equal to the credit received by other renewable energy producers, would help trigger these enhancements. Right now, incremental hydropower receives a production tax credit of 1 cent per kWh while producers of solar and wind power receive 2 cents per kWh. Not providing tax credit parity to hydropower, the largest and most reliable form of renewable power, is a crime against common sense and a major flaw in any national energy plan. Meanwhile, several lawmakers, led by Sens. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and Sam Brownback, R- Kan., have introduced a bill that would require utilities to get 15 percent of their power from renewable resources such as hydro by 2021. The bipartisan group of senators said a national RES is a crucial issue and should be brought to the Senate floor as a stand-alone measure. A national RES will “create tens of thousands of jobs, while expanding clean, reliable hydropower in every state,” said Linda Church Ciocci, executive director of the National Hydropower Association. “Passing a national RES is crucial to creating jobs and building America’s clean energy resources.” To learn more about hydropower’s potential for boosting capacity and creating jobs in the U.S., be sure to read the October issue of Hydro Review magazine. Russell Ray is senior associate editor of Hydro Review magazine. Russell has 11 years experience as an energy journalist, covering the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma and the growth of solar and nuclear power in Florida. He served eight years as the energy reporter for the Tulsa World. He held the same position at the Tampa Tribune for two and a half years before joining Hydro Review in 2009. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2010/10/the-power-of-rehab Copyright © 1999-2011 RenewableEnergyWorld.com All rights reserved. 2 The Citizen of Laconia Article published Oct 13, 2010 Energy project unveiled; impact called 'staggering' Franklin: State and local officials announced Tuesday that Franklin has been chosen as the site for a large-scale power system facility associated with the construction of a major high- tension transmission line bringing renewable hydropower from Quebec to New England. The investment in the city of Franklin was put at $250 million, and Gov. John Lynch said the project would create 1,200 jobs in New Hampshire, and pump about $1 billion into the state's economy. Franklin Mayor Ken Merrifield said that the "green energy" project, called Northern Pass, along with Public Service of New Hampshire and Hydro-Quebec have formed a partnership that will bring 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydroelectric power into New England, which will include the construction of transmission lines and a new convertor station built in the Franklin. At 1,200 megawatts, the power line would potentially carry enough electricity to power as many as 1 million homes, according to some calculations. "They are going to make an investment in the city that is staggering," Merrifield told the crowd which had gathered at City Hall to hear details of plan which until Tuesday had been a closely guarded secret.