Water power is America’s first source of renewable electricity. The world’s first plant to generate electricity from flowing water began operating in 1882 in Appleton, Wisconsin, and by 1940, water power supplied 40% of the nation’s electricity. Today, conventional hydropower alone generates about 28% of U.S. renewable electricity, and water power provides the flexible, dispatchable power that keeps the grid reliable and resilient.

In 2026, the National Hydropower Association (NHA) officially founded the Water Power PAC of the National Hydropower Association (the “Water Power PAC”), a separate segregated fund political action committee connected to NHA. The Water Power PAC is dedicated to supporting policymakers who champion the issues that matter most to the water power industry. As the only PAC focused solely on water power in all its forms, it is an essential tool for amplifying the collective voice of the nation’s water power community.

Who Supports Water Power PAC

Water Power PAC is supported by individuals who belong to NHA member organizations and other eligible contributors. For more information, please contact Matthew Allen ([email protected]) or Erika Ose ([email protected]).