Washington, DC – NHA’s Water Power Week, an annual policy conference that convenes the water power industry in Washington D.C., boasted powerful, bipartisan advocacy to Congress this year that’s helping to advance crucial legislation. This year’s conference was held at the Capital Hilton from Monday, March 31 to Wednesday, April 2.
On Tuesday, April 1, 151 event attendees from across the nation headed to Capitol Hill to advocate for key water power policies – including passage of a bipartisan bill that will create a 30% investment tax credit for upgrades to existing hydropower facilities: H.R. 2160, S. 1183 — Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act.
Through direct meetings with these Members of Congress and their staff, attendees garnered additional support for urgent priorities to strengthen existing hydro, support the hydro workforce, and unleash water power funding and innovation.
Advocacy Day highlights are below:
- 151 attendees, representing 33 states and Washington, D.C.
- 123 meetings with U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate offices
- 61 meetings in the Senate
- 62 meetings in the House
- 52 Democratic offices reached
- 71 Republican offices reached
- 24 meetings attended by Members of Congress, ensuring direct communication between lawmakers and Water Power Week attendees
Water Power Week is also an occasion to honor the congressional champions and their hard-working staffers who seek to advance hydro priorities in Congress.
This year, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) received NHA’s Hydropower Legacy Award, an honor bestowed annually on lawmakers who have demonstrated long time commitment to hydropower. Alaska’s senior senator, serving since 2002, continually advocates for water power in all its forms – that includes technologies like marine energy, which present tremendous potential to power remote and indigenous communities in her state. She is also a Senate co-lead for the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act (S. 1183). Senator Murkowski was presented with the award by Duff Mitchell, who is the Managing Director of Juneau Hydropower, an NHA member organization.
Sen. Murkowski (center) receives NHA’s Hydropower Legacy Award. Pictured with her are NHA President and CEO, Malcolm Woolf (left), and Duff Mitchell (right), Managing Director of Juneau Hydropower, an Alaskan hydro developer.
Sen. Murkowski addresses attendees at Tuesday’s plenary session
In the House, Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) both received NHA’s Legislator of the Year Award, which recognizes lawmakers who are building a legacy of strong water power advocacy in the halls of Congress and among their constituents.
Rep. Bonamici is dedicated to raising the visibility of marine energy technologies and investing in marine energy as a clean energy solution. She was honored at the conference by Sarah Henkel, Associate Director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center at Oregon State University.
Rep. Bonamici (center) receives NHA’s Legislator of the Year Award. She is pictured with NHA President and CEO, Malcolm Woolf (left), and Sarah Henkel (right), Associate Director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center at Oregon State University.
Rep. Adrian Smith is a fierce advocate for hydropower in his home state of Nebraska and is the House co-lead of the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act (H.R. 2160). He was unable to attend the event but was honored alongside Rep. Bonamici.
NHA also sought to recognize congressional staff, who often do the hard work of crafting legislation and educating their bosses about key issues behind the scenes. These aides are as integral as the Members they serve in advancing water power legislation. This year’s winners of NHA’s “Unsung Hero” award are Kei Fujisawa from the office of Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Hali Gruber from the office of Senator Murkowski (R-AK).
Hali Gruber (second from left) and Kei Fujisawa (third from left) receive NHA’s Unsung Hero Award. They are pictured with NHA President and CEO, Malcolm Woolf (left), and NHA Legislative Director, Matthew Allen (right).
