Building Infrastructure: Inside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydropower Mission

Shelia L. Fourman — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:15:00 GMT

Hydropower remains one of the most reliable and cost-effective energy sources in the U.S., and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues to lead the nation in its production. As the country’s largest operator of hydropower, USACE manages 75 facilities with a combined installed capacity of more than 20,000 megawatts (MW), generating nearly 100 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, almost one-third of the nation’s total hydropower output. That energy supports approximately 10 million households each year while strengthening grid reliability and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

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Building Infrastructure: Inside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydropower Mission