Community Highlights

The Non-Powered Dam (NPD) Toolkit, released in October and developed collaboratively by INL and PNNL, compiles regulatory guidance and procedural information to assist stakeholders navigating non-powered dam hydropower development. The toolkit addresses permitting pathways, environmental compliance considerations, and stakeholder engagement processes, providing structured access to commonly requested regulatory information.

Early user feedback indicates that the toolkit improves clarity around regulatory requirements and supports more efficient project review discussions.

Non-Powered Dam Toolkit

The Open Energy Information (OpenEI) platform hosts an open-access collection of hydropower workforce development reports, analytical tools, and reference materials to support educators, employers, and policy planners. The Hydropower STEM and Workforce Reports section aggregates studies on labor trends, training gaps, skill needs, and career pathway development across the water power sector. By consolidating materials from multiple authors and institutions, the platform provides a shared knowledge base for workforce strategy and education planning.

Improved access to workforce data enhances transparency and supports coordinated efforts to align hydropower education, training programs, and industry needs.

OpenEI – Hydropower STEM / Workforce Reports

 

The Foundation for Water & Energy Education (FWEE) delivers hydropower-focused training programs and experiential learning opportunities for teachers and students throughout the Pacific Northwest. Through educator workshops, curriculum development support, and STEM Career Academies, FWEE connects classroom instruction with applied water and energy system concepts. Students gain exposure to hydropower technologies, resource management principles, and career pathways spanning engineering, environmental science, and utility operations.

By strengthening regional energy literacy and supporting early-career exposure to hydropower systems, FWEE contributes to long-term workforce development in communities where hydropower infrastructure plays a foundational role in energy supply and water management.

Foundation for Water & Energy Education – Teacher & Student Opportunities

Investing in training and workforce development is important to ensuring hydropower continues to provide renewable energy and critical grid services in the future. In addition to direct education, training, and mentoring efforts, this includes appropriate documentation for the future workforce. With this in mind, W.E.S.T. USA, Inc. is working with hydropower owners and operators to develop technical manuals tailored to their facilities. This technical documentation is digital, specific to the facility’s equipment, and incorporates the institutional knowledge of employees that are near retirement to ensure that valuable information is retained. 

Learn more from W.E.S.T. USA, Inc.

The National Hydropower Association elevated the visibility of hydropower as a renewable energy source through its digital advertising campaign, Hydropower: The Solution That’s Right in Front of You. The campaign took a storytelling approach that leveraged engaging photos and videos to appeal to a broad audience on social media and streaming platforms. The materials highlighted how hydropower provides clean and reliable energy, supports other renewables, has a long record of success as well as room for future innovation, and provides additional value through recreation opportunities. The impactful campaign reached millions and had a largely favorable impression, boosting hydropower’s visibility as a renewable energy and communicating its myriad value to a wide audience. 

Learn more about the campaign from NHA.