The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $3.2 million in grants for upgrades and repairs at three hydroelectric dam facilities in Arkansas.
The recipients, proposed improvements and award amounts are:
- Entergy Arkansas, Remmel Dam safety improvements, $1.9 million
- Entergy Arkansas, Carpenter Dam grid resiliency improvements, $978,138
- Independence County, White River Lock and Dam No. 1 spillway and embankment repair, $325,952.80
The money is a portion of $430 million awarded to 293 hydroelectric improvement projects across 33 states. It’s the first round of funding under the Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives program, which is administered by the Energy Department’s Grid Deployment Office.
Funds come from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
In addition to repairs and safety upgrades, the projects aim to mitigate fish and wildlife impacts, strengthen grid resilience and increase access to affordable, carbon-free electricity, the Energy Department said in a news release.
Hydropower currently accounts for nearly 27% of renewable electricity generation in the U.S, as well as 93% of all utility-scale energy storage. But the fleet is aging, with many facilities in need of repair and upgrades.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said the grants will “expand and modernize our hydropower fleet, while protecting thousands of American jobs.”
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