President’s “Climate Action Plan” includes measures to accelerate the permitting process for clean energy projects, including a Voith-supplied hydropower project.

Heidenheim/York, PA/USA. Yesterday, President Obama released his Climate Action Plan, a proposal to limit the effects of global climate change. Part of the plan is a proposal to accelerate permitting for clean energy projects, including the development of hydroelectric power at existing dams. The President’s proposal specifically mentions the Red Rock Hydroelectric Plant in Iowa as a project it will designate for the Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard, which is intended to prioritize major infrastructure projects. Voith is supplying hydropower equipment at the Red Rock plant.

“The President’s announcement is welcome news for clean energy advocates, as well as the entire hydropower industry,” said Voith Hydro Inc. President and CEO Kevin Frank. “We are excited the President has designated the Red Rock Hydroelectric Plant – which is being equipped with Voith turbines, generators, automation, and plant systems - for the Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard. This designation will help to expedite other hydropower projects across the U.S. Coupled with recent Congressional action to streamline the regulatory process for hydropower projects, we are beginning to see tangible progress towards expanding reliable, clean, and low-cost American hydropower.”

In addition to the President’s announcement, earlier this year the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act, and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has passed identical legislation in the Hydropower Improvement Act. This legislation is designed to streamline the permitting process for small hydropower projects across the country. As many have noted, hydropower is one of the rare areas of strong bipartisan agreement on energy policy, which should bode well for hydropower legislation becoming law.

“Not only will expanded hydropower production help meet President Obama’s climate goals, it has the added benefit of creating jobs in all parts of the United States,” Frank concluded.

About hydropower

Hydropower is the largest, oldest and most reliable form of renewable energy generation. Worldwide, it makes an indispensable contribution to stable power supplies and hence to economic and social development - both in industrial countries and in emerging markets. Hydropower also makes a significant contribution to climate-protecting energy production. Voith has been a leading supplier of this technology from the early beginning and continuously develops it further.

Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transportation & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs more than 42,000 people, generates € 5.7 billion in sales, operates in about 50 countries around the world and is today one of the biggest family-owned companies in Europe.