Our Opinion on Industry News

Forbes: The Water–Energy Nexus: The Hidden Infrastructure Of Resilience

Why it’s Important:

The water–energy nexus signals a key shift — every water pipe is also an under-used power stream. For operators, Rentricity’s in-conduit hydropower systems turn distribution infrastructure into clean energy assets, cutting operating costs, reducing GHGs and bolstering resilience at a moment when efficiency is the fastest path to infrastructure stability.

Exploring and improving how state water funding flows amid a surge in federal infrastructure investment

Why it’s Important:

The Clean Water State Revolving fund and Green Project Reserve offer additional subsidies and focuses on critical green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements, and other environmentally innovative activities.

EPA Launches $7.5B Water Infrastructure Financing Round

Why it’s Important:

While the WIFIA program emphasize critical infrastructure, improvements like in-conduit hydropower can be added to gravity-fed water treatment upgrades as well as distribution regulator vaults.  EPA accepts letters of interest on a rolling basis and cover 49% of cost, on average, for large system and appreciates projects with green technology features.  Rentricity can support the shovel-ready details required!

California’s water workforce is aging. Promoting the next generation of workers is essential

Why it’s Important:

As our water infrastructure transitions, the opportunity to teach new skills about in-conduit hydropower exists.  Water operators can now be empowered to add these features to future projects beyond the standard water quality and conveyance requirements.  Treating and moving water in the future will include standard energy recovery equipment that will become as ubiqutous as valves and piping!

Tapping Municipal Water Supply Systems for Low-impact Hydropower

Why it’s Important:

Oak Ridge National Lab’s work will continue to refine the standards and requirements for making United States’ water infrastructure “energy recovery ready!”  Auditing all new distribution pipeline projects for energy recovery and tapping state and federal grant programs, incentivizing sustainability, is a way for cities to accelerate the movement to smart, sustainable water infrastructure.

Celebrating Two Years of the Inflation Reduction Act

Why it’s Important:

Multiple grant programs are available to agricultural and rural communities to improve water infrastructure and energy efficiency.  In-conduit hydropower provides a sustainability component to a grant application improving the chances of winning an award from USDA.

It’s Time to add Water to the Sustainability Conversation

Why it’s Important:

Industrial usage is coming into focus since, in the United States alone, we use over 50 billion gallons a day for processes such as food & beverage, mining, pharmaceutical to name a few.  As more and more industrial water processes come under scrutiny, leaders can consider in-conduit hydropower to further contribute to sustainability goals.

The EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants are given to states, tribes, or coalitions – have a variety of aims. Many target reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, whether in transportation, energy, or farming. 

Why it’s Important:

Many new water infrastructure projects have a green or sustainability component which are eligible for EPA grants.  Click here to see if your state has acquired funding!

The U.S. WIFIA loan program: transforming water infrastructure financing

Why it’s Important:

Green Infrastructure projects are eligible for EPA WIFIA loans.  If you are upgrading a regulator or flow control vault, you can add an energy recovery-ready design, making it ready for a pump-as-turbine and clean energy generation to offset costs and support your community’s sustainability goals.