National Hydropower Association (NHA)
The National Hydropower Association (NHA) is a nonprofit national association dedicated to promoting the growth of clean, affordable U.S. hydropower. It seeks to secure hydropower’s place as a climate-friendly, renewable and reliable energy source that serves national environmental, energy, and economic policy objectives. NHA unites the diverse North American hydropower community, providing a powerful advocacy voice among U.S. decision makers, the general public and the international community. Through membership, individuals and organizations gain access to regulatory bodies, influence over energy and environmental policy and a means to exchange valuable information within the industry.
Company details
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- Business Type:
- Nonprofit organization (NPO)
- Industry Type:
- Hydro Power
- Market Focus:
- Internationally (various countries)
About Us
NHA represents more than 200 companies in the North American hydropower industry, from Fortune 500 corporations to family-owned small businesses. Our members include both public and investor-owned utilities, independent power producers, developers, manufacturers, environmental and engineering consultants, attorneys, and public policy, outreach, and education professionals.
NHA members are involved in projects throughout the U.S. hydropower industry, including both federal and non-federal hydroelectric facilities. NHA members own and operate the majority of the non-federal waterpower generating facilities in the United States. Click to learn about membership benefits.
National Event
NHA hosts Waterpower Week in Washington, the nation’s premier hydropower and marine energy event. Each year, industry professionals and power producers and suppliers converge on the nation’s capital to shape the future of waterpower.
Waterpower Week is comprised of three co-located conferences rolled into one: NHA’s Annual Conference, International Marine Renewable Energy Conference (IMREC), and Marine Energy Technology Symposium (METS). This 3-day jam packed event provides you the opportunity to network, learn about legislative and regulatory initiatives, and discuss the issues impacting hydropower and marine energy industry.
What We Do
NHA is the unified voice of the U.S. hydropower industry both in Washington, DC and across the country. Through advocacy, policy, communications, and education initiatives, NHA works every day to maximize the role that available, affordable, reliable and sustainable hydropower plays in the U.S. electricity sector.
NHA accomplishes its policy work and outreach through the following standing committees and councils:
- Hydraulic Power Committee: Provides a forum for hydropower owners and operators, as well as equipment and service providers for hydroelectric facilities to exchange information and service providers, to share ideas relating to the technical best practices on operations and aspects of hydropower projects maintenance, dam safety and security, and worker safety.
- Legislative Affairs Committee: Develops recommendations for and positions on legislation before Congress.
- Public Affairs Committee: Directs NHA’s communication strategies, media outreach and education efforts.
- Regulatory Affairs Committee: Develops hydropower policy recommendations and interprets regulatory changes for NHA’s members.
- Research and Development Committee: Recommends strategies to promote technological and other advancements and innovations to strengthen and grow the hydropower industry’s contribution to our clean energy future.
- Marine Energy Council: Develops policies to support the growth of marine and hydrokinetic technologies. Learn more.
- CEO Council: Serves as a forum to bring hydropower executives together to share information about industry challenges and problems and provide strategic counsel to NHA Board.
- Pumped Storage Development Council: Assists in the development of policies to support growth in the pumped storage sector.
- Small Hydropower Council: Assists in the development of policies to support growth in the small hydro sector with a particular emphasis on conventional hydro projects, development at non-powered dams, irrigation and conduit power.
NHA’s Board of Directors serves as the Association’s policy board and uses recommendations from the standing committees to base their decisions. Representatives from NHA member organizations across the country serve on the board and these committees and councils, providing expertise and recommendations to ensure that NHA’s initiatives serve the interests of the hydropower industry.
Marine Energy Council
In 2014, NHA formed the Marine Energy Council to provide a home for the marine energy community, cementing NHA’s role as the unified trade association representing the full spectrum of water power technologies.
NHA’s Marine Energy Council unites technology developers, academic institutions, consultants, component suppliers and service providers representing the wave, tidal, ocean current, and riverine sectors and focuses attention on the potential growth opportunities of emerging technologies, share information among industry members, and provide a forum in which to discuss the various challenges ocean, tidal, hydrokinetic and emerging water technologies face.
The council focuses on:
- Securing vital funding for research and development through the Department of Energy’s Water Power Program and providing input on how best to leverage those investments to further the marine energy sector;
- Supporting legislative efforts to secure the long-term inclusion of marine energy technologies in federal incentives for renewable energy including the Production Tax Credit, the Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) program and others;
- Recognizing these new technologies in clean energy programs, such as a Renewable Portfolio Standard;
- Developing a smart and expeditious permitting scheme;
- Creating or increasing research, demonstration and development programs at other federal agencies that fund and support these emerging technologies; and,
- Promoting the important role emerging technologies can play in meeting increased demand for clean energy.