A $37.5 billion energy and water development package approved by the U.S. Senate in mid-May could provide record levels of funding for segments of the hydro sector. The appropriations bill, passed by a 90-8 vote, would provide allocations for the U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Interior's Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Specific to hydropower are: 1. $25 million for conventional hydro and pumped storage, including up to $3.9 million for the purposes of Section 242 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005; 2. $3 million for the evaluation of pumped storage at two sites to be determined by the Secretary of Energy, while building off DOE's pumped-storage work begun in the current fiscal year; 3. $59 million for marine and hydrokinetic technology research, development and deployment; 4. $25 million to fund competition in ocean, river and tidal energy, with the goal of increasing efficiency, reliability and survivability; 5. $35 million to construct a wave energy test facility; and 6. $4 million to support collaborations between universities and the national laboratories to support marine energy development, as well as coordination with the U.S. Navy on demonstrations.
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