The U.S. Energy Dept. announced Sept. 5 recipients in 33 states of $430 million to support upgrades and safety improvements at aging hydroelectric dams across the U.S. 

The agency says funds would be matched by more than $2.4 billion from private sector sources. The DOE first round funding, to be provided to 293 hydroelectric dam improvement projects, will cover up to 30% of costs up to $5 million. Funds are being disbursed and managed through its Grid Deployment Office and are authorized under the 2021 infrastructure investment law.

While hydropower accounts for nearly 27% of renewable electricity generation and 93% of all utility-scale storage in the U.S., many facilities need to be upgraded. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave dams a grade of D in its latest report card, released in 2021. The average age of dams receiving funds is 79 years, DOE says. 

“As our earliest form of renewable energy generation, hydropower has reliably kept American running for almost 150 years,” said DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm in a statement. Funding will “expand and modernize the hydropower fleet, while protecting thousands of American jobs.”

Selected projects relate to at least one of three areas: improving grid resilience through replacing and upgrading turbines and generators control systems and other equipment; improving dam safety through such projects as gate and emergency spillway upgrades, replacing concrete to prevent water seepage through the dam and erosion repairs; and enabling environmental improvements to hydropower facilities through fish ladders and other measures.

DOE says it anticipates releasing a second round of funding in 2025.