Back to All
During the week of March 9, 2026, the water power industry will gather in Washington, D.C., for National Hydropower Association’s (NHA) Water Power Week.
Running from March 9 – March 13, 2026, the event provides a unique opportunity for attendees to concentrate on regulatory, policy, markets, and legislative aspects of their work. Additionally, attendees will have the chance to hear from and network with others who affect the industry – regulators, resource agencies, and environmental communities.
With an abundance of content and opportunities to network and engage, attendees are tasked with determining their path for the event. To help make the most of Water Power Week, NHA created this article to aid attendees in identifying the topic areas most relevant to their interests.
General Topics Impacting Water Power
A plenary session during Water Power Week 2025. (Photo Credit – NHA)
SESSION TOPICS
Advocacy:
NHA has declared March 11, 2026, as Hydro Advocacy Day, and is asking anyone working in the water power industry to take time that day to visit the offices of their legislators. The intent is to make policy makers aware of hydropower in all its forms and to advance important water power priorities.
If you’re new to advocacy, or a practiced hand, NHA offers support to participants by:
- Arranging Hill meetings
- Giving access to an Advocacy Day app, which allows for quick reference to talking points, an interactive map, personalized schedule, tools for communication and ‘after-action’ messaging
- Handing out pocket cards for easily accessible industry priorities
- Providing a session on how to lobby and communicate legislative priorities
With additional sessions designed to explore continuing this critical work outside of the event, NHA seeks to impart the power and importance of effective advocacy.
Advocacy Day Preparation: Training for Participants
Building Local Support: Effective Grassroots Strategies
Reception on Capitol Hill with Congressional Staffers / Members
Advocacy Day participants sit-down for a meeting. (Photo Credit – NHA)
General Topics Impacting Water Power:
Water Power Week covers a wide range of topic areas critical to the industry, and at this year’s conference, NHA has seven general sessions ranging from analyzing the hydropower supply chain to increasing your organization’s impact on National Hydropower Day.
One of the best parts of Water Power Week is connecting with peers and decision makers. The “Agency Lightning Briefings and Informal Meet and Greets” provide attendees with the chance to meet with representatives from federal agencies in formal settings, as well as additional time to engage in informal conversations about everything from hydro licensing to environmental reviews.
While Water Power Week utilizes its Washington D.C. location to develop dialogue with legislators, NHA’s National Hydropower Day, which takes place annually on August 24, is an opportunity for the water power industry to speak with the entire nation. During this year’s conference, learn from NHA how your organization can tap into National Hydropower Day to boost your profile, develop connections with local media, and enhance community relationships.
Agency ‘Lightning’ Briefings and Informal Meet and Greets
Financing Firm Power: Managing Risk in Capital-Intensive Energy Infrastructure
How the Realignment of the U.S. Department of Energy Could Affect You
How to Make a ‘Splash’ on National Hydropower Day
Multi-Agency Coordination: Navigating Interior, Commerce, and the Broader Federal Ecosystem
Women in Water Power Networking Lunch: “The Answer is …”
Water Power Week 2025 attendees listen to a panel discussion. (Photo Credit – NHA)
Hydropower:
In the recent FY2026 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, hydropower and pumped storage received a record $79 million. Included in this historic funding is $10 million dedicated to advanced analytics for hydropower optimization, as well as $15 million to establish a network of new and existing hydropower testing facilities.
With an influx of financial support for hydropower, Water Power Week aims to be a ‘one stop shop’ for the U.S. hydropower sector, aiding the industry in seizing the moment while determining the best course of action to advance water power.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation recently forecasted that peak demand will rise 24% on new data center loads over the next 10 years, and hydropower is emerging as a key solution for balancing high-performance computing with sustainability. Experts will discuss how behind-the-meter hydro solutions and long-term power arrangements are shaping the future of energy-intensive industries.
It’s vital for water power organizations to understand how state and tribal historic preservation offices influence FERC hydropower licensing and why effective cultural resource coordination is critical to successful water power projects. Attendees will learn how well-designed Cultural Resource Management and Historic Properties Management Plans can reduce risk, avoid delays, and support long-term project operations while meeting Section 106 requirements.
Water Power Week equips attendees with the knowledge to navigate evolving challenges and opportunities, and at this year’s conference, NHA has scheduled eight hydro-centric sessions:
Fish Passage and Habitat Restoration: Industry Perspectives on Successful Design and Delivery
New Directions: The Trump Administration’s Impact on Federal Hydropower and Power Marketing Administrations
Shoreline Management and Recreation Workshop
The Real Cost of Licensing: Financial Realities for Hydropower and Pumped Storage Facilities
Turning Hydropower Supporters into Champions
Great Falls in New Jersey. (Photo Credit – Wikimedia – FirozAnsari)
Marine Energy:
As marine energy continues to innovate and redefine water power’s potential, attendees at Water Power Week will be able to join discussions about the current state of the sector, strategies to continue the advancement of the industry, and the real-world applications of the technologies.
Attending Water Power Week turns marine energy’s potential into reality by connecting developers with federal government contacts while providing a platform for emerging technologies and trends.
To better understand the growing importance of marine energy, as well as the innovations shaping its future, NHA has two sessions dedicated to the topic.
Working Lunch for Marine Energy Professionals
Huntington Beach Pier at sunset – California, USA. (Photo Credit – Wikimedia – Bambs900)
Policy and Regulatory Topics:
Water Power Week in D.C. takes full advantage of its location and proximity to Capitol Hill by attracting speakers from federal agencies, who offer expert insight into the biggest topics impacting water power.
Whether attendees are hearing from representatives at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) or listening to speakers with deep knowledge of the industry, Water Power Week provides unprecedented access to the field’s s top minds.
During the upcoming Water Power Week conference, attendees will be able to explore legislative priorities, including recent actions on the PERMIT Act, SPEED Act, and other proposals aimed at streamlining processes while maintaining environmental protections.
By developing deeper insight into the policy and regulatory forces shaping the water power industry, attendees can gain an advantage in the industry by deepening their understanding of the policy and regulatory landscape.
FERC: Recent Trends and Developments
Hear from the Hill: Congressional Action on Permitting
Participants in NHA’s Advocacy Day walk through D.C.’s Capitol Hill. (Photo Credit – NHA)
Pumped Storage:
Pumped storage is one of the biggest topics in water power, and NHA is excited to offer two sessions on the topic.
As Water Power Week draws closer, pumped storage hydropower has been making the news. At the end of January, Rye Development secured a 40-year federal license to construct the Goldendale Energy Storage Project – a pumped storage hydropower facility with a proposed nameplate capacity of 1.2 GW. Located in Washington, Goldendale Energy Storage Project would create an estimated 3,000 jobs, and the project would serve utilities in the Pacific Northwest and California.
Understanding the landscape, permitting, licensing obstacles, and financial costs of pumped storage projects is paramount for the water power industry, and Water Power Week provides the framework for those important conversations and learning opportunities to occur.
With a wealth of information, tools, and insight into how to develop pumped storage available at Water Power Week, the event offers attendees access to the people and expertise shaping the field.
The Real Cost of Licensing: Financial Realities for Hydropower and Pumped Storage Facilities
Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Plant in Tennessee. (Photo Credit – Tennessee Valley Authority)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about the schedule for NHA’s Water Power Week, click here.
To register for Water Power Week, click here.
