5.5.9 Hydro in State RPSs

LPDD Recommendation:Through the use of federal research grants and other federal funding provided to the states, Congress should encourage the states to change their restrictive RPS requirements by allowing all duly licensed and exempted nonfederal hydropower to qualify.”

Maryland RPS

Maryland’s RPS includes small hydroelectric power plants of less than 30 megawatts.

Delaware RPS

Delaware’s RPS includes hydroelectric facilities that have a maximum design capacity of 30 megawatts or less.

Connecticut RPS

Connecticut’s RPS includes run-of-river hydropower facilities that began operating after July, 1, 2003 and have a generating capacity of not more than 30 megawatts.

Colorado RPS

Colorado’s RPS includes new hydroelectricity with a nameplate capacity of 10 megawatts or less, and existing hydropower of 30 megawatts or less.

Vermont RPS

Vermont requires that the states’ retail electricity suppliers obtain 75% of their annual electricity from renewable sources, which includes any size hydroelectric facility, by 2032.

California RPS

California requires that the state’s retail electricity suppliers obtain 50% of their annual electricity sales from renewable resources, which includes hydroelectric facilities of 30 MW or less, by 2030.