On Monday, August 24, mark your calendars for National Hydropower Day (NHD)! National Hydropower Association (NHA) launched this commemoration in 2019 to recognize the many benefits of water power, and since then, NHD has grown into a nationwide celebration of American hydropower in all its forms.

As National Hydropower Day approaches, NHA encourages the water power community to celebrate NHD, as a means of yielding renewed interest in water power technologies.

One of the best ways to engage stakeholders around this message is by inviting local elected officials on a tour of your facilities, particularly your Members of Congress. That’s why NHA urges the water power industry to invite these key stakeholders to your facilities this August to help celebrate National Hydropower Day!

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), speaks at the podium in front of the Ice Harbor Dam in Washington, following a tour. Also pictured: representatives (left to right) Matt Rosendale, R.-Mont., Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., and Marinnette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa.

HYDRO WORKS

This year’s NHD theme is “Hydro Works,” which recognizes the many benefits all forms of hydropower provide to our nation.

While highlighting hydro’s ability to generate 24/7 baseload power is vital, it’s also important to share ancillary benefits, which includes:

• Job creation
• Recreational areas
• Water management and land conservation
• …and many more!

To help you and your organization share the value of all that water power does, NHA has created a social media toolkit, which has pre-crafted graphics and messaging – all easily deployable and modifiable.

Check out the toolkit here!

UTILIZE THE AUGUST RECESS

The August recess, or district work period, is the time when federal lawmakers head back to their districts or states for the month to conduct work back home. During this time, legislators attend events, meet with constituents, and conduct site-visits and tours of local businesses.

August recess is the perfect opportunity to invite U.S. Representatives and Senators to visit your facilities, as they are looking for opportunities to connect with the community.

Members of Congress are not only political leaders but thought leaders, too. Personally showing them the vast benefits of hydropower can help advance water power priorities in Congress, shape public opinion, and increase media attention.

Hosting a Member of Congress at your facilities provides a critical educational opportunity to elevate the importance of water power to your community, highlighting the ways in which water powers homes and businesses.

These visits can yield real results. Last year, NHA member company, Bowersock Hydropower, located in Lawrence, Kansas, received a visit from Kansas’ Senior Senator Jerry Moran. At the height of the reconciliation fight in Washington, Bowersock’s hospitality and advocacy, headed by CEO Sarah Hill-Nelson, helped secure Senator Moran’s commitment to protecting tax incentives for baseload, renewable energy like hydropower; he ultimately voted for the final version of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” that preserved vital tax credits for hydropower projects that commence construction by 2033.

While hydropower enjoys broad, bipartisan support, it often gets overlooked by lawmakers. National Hydropower Day is a prime opportunity to get them to pay attention and to help them understand why it matters to the communities they serve. It makes a difference when Members of Congress decide where to spend precious political capital.

A congressional tour is also a great way to get the interest of local media. Consider inviting them to cover the visit, which brings positive attention to your business or facility, and be sure to share pictures and videos of the visit to social media using the hashtag #HydroWorks!

Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) tours NorthWestern Energy’s Rainbow Dam.

HOW TO INVITE YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

NHA makes it easy to extend the invitation via a new campaign on the VoterVoice platform, which is a tool to streamline communication between citizens and their elected representatives.

By clicking on this link, you’ll be taken to a page that provides step-by-step instructions on how to invite your House and Senate members on a tour, complete with a customizable message. Just scroll down to the section marked “Congressional Facility Invitation Visit,” and click the box!

Even better, all you have to do is type in your address, and VoterVoice automatically identifies your representatives.

An NHA ‘Tiger Team’ meets with legislative staff during NHA’s Advocacy Day

WHAT TO DO DURING AND AFTER THE TOUR:

• Provide Useful Statistics: Emphasize how important hydropower is to the community by including useful stats (e.g., your facility’s generating capacity, how many local homes and businesses rely on the power your facilities generate, etc.)
• Highlight Current Hydro Legislation: Express your support for the Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act (H.R. 9337). This legislation, introduced by Representative Cliff Bentz (R-OR), amends he Federal Power Act, ensuring that mandatory licensing conditions and prescribed fishways must reasonably mitigate a project’s direct impacts, rather than being expanded to cover concerns unrelated to the project. The result is less cost, less delay, and more certainty for the clean power we already rely on.
• Thank the Office: After the visit concludes, be sure to thank the office and reiterate the importance of water power as a renewable, reliable energy source.
• Share to Social: Be sure to also post photos and takeaways of the visit to your organization’s social media channels, making sure to mention the connection to National Hydropower Day.

**Please note that if the Member of Congress is unavailable, they may send the head of their district office or another community liaison, which is just as impactful. Hosting a representative from the office is an effective way to engage with the office and make your voice and priorities heard.

A ‘Tiger Team’ meets with legislative staff on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. during NHA’s Advocacy Day

SUCCESS STORIES

Over the past few years, the water power industry, nation-wide, has hosted tours for a bipartisan group of legislators.

In Washington State, Congresswoman, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D), of Washington’s Third Congressional District, visited Tacoma Public Utilities’ Mossyrock Dam and Powerhouse.

She found great value in the tour, telling NHA, “Families across Southwest Washington rely on hydropower as a clean, reliable, and cost-effective source of energy – and our state is the nation’s leading producer of hydropower. I’ve really enjoyed visiting local facilities to see how they’re supporting critical energy needs, good jobs and recreation opportunities across Washington’s Third District.”

Commissioner Brummer, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez, Tacoma Power Generation manager Chris Mattson, and Tacoma Power Natural Resources manager Matt Bleich.

In Tennessee, Congressman Tim Burchett (R), representing the Volunteer State’s Second Congressional District, made his way to Tennessee Valley Authority’s Norris Dam to highlight all the benefits of this critical piece of infrastructure.

Following his visit, he reaffirmed its importance, telling NHA, “Norris Dam creates clean, inexpensive hydropower that also helps stabilize our grid. It employs East Tennesseans and keeps our water clean for the folks who come to Norris Lake to enjoy the outdoors.”

Representative Burchett during a visit to TVA’s Norris Dam.

Water powers so many important things – our communities, America’s energy independence, and much more. Yet, many of our leaders don’t give it the attention and support it deserves.

Let’s work together to change that by sharing the story of hydropower, pumped storage, and hydrokinetic technologies with our elected officials. When it comes to the promise and potential of water power – seeing is believing!