Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers

Hydropower is an important renewable energy resource because of its abundance and ability to produce electricity inexpensively without harmful emissions. Despite this fact, employment in the hydropower industry is expected to remain sluggish in the next decade. The U.S. Department of Energy says that "barriers that could be hindering workforce growth include a lack of hydropower educational programs and student awareness of the industry, an aging workforce and high rate of retirement, and competition with other industries, particularly for jobs in engineering and skilled crafts and trades."

Employment in the hydropower industry will grow if the U.S. government establishes a renewable electricity standard, a regulation that requires the production of more energy from renewable energy resources such as hydropower and solar and wind energy.

Licensing is one factor that may slow employment growth. The licensing process for hydropower projects is slow and inefficient. License requests must be reviewed and approved by federal and state agencies, which often have conflicts between their goals and regulations, making it difficult to obtain a license.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that advanced water power, such as ocean, river, and tidal currents, is also beginning to be studied as a source of renewable energy.