US dams could add 15.2 TWh/yr hydropower via retrofits, study finds

A joint Oak Ridge and Idaho National Laboratory study estimates retrofitting existing US dams without hydropower could yield 15.2 TWh annually, powering 1.4M homes at lower cost than new projects. The finding is based on HydroGenerate modeling, but actual deployment faces regulatory and economic hurdles. This could incrementally boost clean energy supply, though impact on power markets is modest.