COLUMBUS, OH: American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) was named a recipient of a $4 million Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in connection with electricity generated at four hydroelectric facilities on the Ohio River.
The hydroelectric plants, located at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Cannelton, Meldahl, Smithland and Willow Island locks and dams on the Ohio River are among 39 facilities from across the country selected to receive a total of about $12 million in Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program funds in connection with electricity generated at the facilities in 2023. This is the second year that AMP has received incentive funds from this program from the DOE for the operation of the hydroelectric facilities.
The Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program provides funding for hydroelectricity generated by qualified hydroelectric facilities placed in service since Oct. 1, 2005. The Cannelton, Meldahl, Smithland and Willow Island plants, as facilities which became operational in 2016 and 2017 located at dams existing prior to Nov. 15, 2021, are qualified facilities. The four plants represent one of the largest deployments of run-of-the river hydroelectric generation in the country.
Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by the DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, the Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program aims to support the continued operation of the hydropower fleet in the United States, maintain and invest in critical generation facilities and ensure a reliable and resilient electric grid.
“AMP Members who participate in these clean hydropower projects made long-term investments designed to help meet their local power needs for decades,” said Jolene Thompson, AMP President/CEO. “The teams at AMP and the City of Hamilton who operate the facilities do an excellent job and we’re pleased that their efforts contributed to AMP being named a recipient of the Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program award. We thank the Administration and members of Congress who made this funding possible.”
AMP developed and constructed the Cannelton, Smithland and Willow Island plants from 2007 to 2017. In the same time period, AMP, together with the City of Hamilton, an AMP Member, developed and constructed the Meldahl Hydroelectric Plant, which is now operated by the City of Hamilton. AMP and its Members hold interests in two additional hydroelectric plants, the Greenup Hydroelectric Plant and the Belleville Hydroelectric Plant, which were ineligible for Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program funds due to their age.
To learn more about AMP’s hydropower fleet, visit AMP’s website; the official DOE announcement can be viewed on their website.