Hydropower

America’s hydropower challenge goes beyond the West

Lakes Mead and Powell have sunk to unprecedented lows, jeopardizing their generation capabilities — but drought persists in the Northeast, too.

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 21 August 2026

A view of Lake Mead shows a bathtub ring where water levels previously sat. — Lake Mead’s low water level has revealed a “bathtub ring” and is jeopardizing its hydropower generation capacity. (Kevin Carter via Getty Images)

Hydropower

Could hydropower hamper NYC’s building decarbonization law?

New York City building owners can soon buy renewable energy credits to comply with Local Law 97. Climate groups want Mayor Mamdani to limit this practice.

By Benjy Sachs, New York Focus . 7 July 2026
Transmission

Is New England’s new hydropower transmission line paying off?

The flow has been stop and go for the first few months, but the line shows plenty of potential to boost Massachusetts’ renewable energy supply.

By Sarah Shemkus . 16 June 2026
Transmission

NYC’s big, clean power line is officially up and running

The Champlain Hudson Power Express is bringing tons of hydropower to the city — but amid years of drought, can Canada spare the clean electricity?

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 5 June 2026
Hydropower

Hydropower is in hot water. Will Trump’s DOE release funding to help?

The agency is signaling it may unblock $430M in Biden-era funds to help keep the aging U.S. dam fleet online, though money won’t solve all the industry’s problems.

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 1 May 2026
Hydropower

A rare step forward for a US pumped hydro project

Rye Development got a federal permit for a massive grid megaproject in the Pacific Northwest. Construction will start once it finds buyers for the electricity.

By Julian Spector . 26 January 2026
Hydropower

Why is Duke Energy retreating from a major pumped-hydro expansion?

North Carolina’s largest utility was poised to double the capacity of its Bad Creek facility. Now, it’s backing off, casting doubt on state emissions targets.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 15 January 2026
Transmission

Finally, New England’s clean-energy transmission line is ready to go

A controversial project that will bring 1.2 GW of Canadian hydropower into the region is slated to come online this week after nearly a decade of work.

By Sarah Shemkus . 12 January 2026
Hydropower

Brookfield inks hydro contract with Microsoft in latest Big Tech deal

The announcement follows Brookfield’s record-setting hydro deal with Google — and could help fund upgrades to certain hydroelectric facilities facing relicensing.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 20 November 2025
Hydropower

US hydropower is at a make-or-break moment

Gigawatts of clean energy are at stake as aging hydropower plants approach deadlines for relicensing — a yearslong, often extremely expensive process.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 1 October 2025
Hydropower

In New England, Canadian hydropower has slowed to an ominous trickle

Whether due to drought, prices, or politics, the weekslong disappearance of Canadian hydropower from New England’s grid exposes risks for the region.

By Sarah Shemkus . 31 March 2025