Small-Scale Hydropower Bill

The Small-Scale Hydropower Bill was designed to encourage the construction and production of small scale hydropower facilities. The bill also encourages that the hydropower facilities take advantage of smaller water sources for the production of power. With the current federal regulations, all hydropower facilities are seen equal whether big or small. The small facilities become very expensive and often times the funding for the projects fall through due to the overburden of federal regulations.

The act is for conduit style hydropower facilities that produce less than 1.5 megawatts. The Greybull hydropower facility will be creating just under 5 megawatts. My hope for the future is that other acts will be designed for tax relief on hydropower facilities in the 4 to 5 megawatt range. A 5 megawatt hydropower facility is small enough that most people would not even notice the facility. In most cases the size of the facility is small in reference to the large concrete or earth dam.

People are becoming more and more conscience about the nation’s reliance on oil production. With the cost of a barrel of oil rising tremendously, people will become more proactive in the development of renewable energy resources. Tax credits are ways to promote the construction of such facilities.