Report Shows U.S. Ability To Steward the Environment and Generate Clean Electricity

Available at www.outstandingrivers.org

Press Release from National Hydropower Association (NHA)

From removing nearly two million tons of trash from rivers in the Southeastern United States to finding better ways to increase salmon runs in the Northwest, The Outstanding Stewardships of America's Rivers (OSAR) report presents examples of exemplary stewardship by seven hydroelectric generators.

The 2005 OSAR report, available on the internet at www.outstandingrivers.org, details:

-Alcoa Power Generating's releasing of water into two by-passed reaches of the Little Tennessee and Cheoah Rivers, and the protection of nearly 10,000 acres of land within the Little Tennessee River watershed;

-Avista Utilities' work placing into perpetual protection, more than 1,800 acres including critical habitat for bull trout on a tributary of the Clark Fork River;

-City of Holyoke Gas & Electric Department's construction near the Connecticut River of three bald eagle nests boarding six eagle fledglings;

-PPL Montana's restoration of more than 3,000 acres of wetland, riparian, and upland habitats along the Madison and Missouri River;

-Tacoma Power's construction of 100 acres of elk forage fields in the upper Nisqually River basin;

-Chelan County's successful steps toward improved fish passage at its Columbia River dams;

-Southern Company's initiative helping volunteers remove approximately two million tons of trash from the Black Warrior, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Coosa, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Tallapoosa, and Tullulah Rivers;

These examples are among many of the actions taken daily by hydroelectric operators around the nation to protect and enhance our natural environment while generating clean, domestic energy.

"The entire hydropower industry is extremely proud of the accomplishments presented in this report," said George Martin, 2005 president of the National Hydropower Association (NHA). NHA sponsors the report.

Coinciding with the launching of the OSAR website, representatives from the report's seven featured companies received OSAR awards today during a special luncheon at NHA's Annual Conference, which is taking place in Washington, D.C.

The first OSAR report was published in 1999.

Hydropower does more than produce the cleanest form of electricity (projects in the 2005 OSAR report, combined, produce enough non-carbon energy to offset approximately 3.64 million metric tons of carbon emissions), it also creates recreational opportunities such as fishing and boating, establishes wildlife protection areas, provides clean drinking water, and protects against floods.

In 2004, total U.S. conventional hydropower capacity was more than 78,000 megawatts, which was 85 percent of the country's renewable energy capacity and 8.7 percent of the country's total electric generating capacity.

For more information on the report or hydropower, please contact Steven Gotfried at the National Hydropower Association (202) 682-1700 ext 14.

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The National Hydropower Association is the only national U.S. trade association exclusively dedicated to advancing hydropower in North America. Its members include approximately 140 companies representing every sector of the hydropower industry. NHA was founded in 1983.