Hydropower Demand Rises in Great Lakes Amid Trump's Clean Energy Clampdown
The Great Lakes region, home to one of the world's largest freshwater deposits, is poised to become a hub for next-generation hydropower generators. This surge in interest comes as electricity prices are being hiked across the United States, and the Trump administration moves to eliminate federal subsidies for solar and wind energy projects.
Urban Hydroelectric Ventures Take Shape
Submersible hydroelectric technology is being deployed across the Great Lakes, with supporters highlighting its potential as a key component in clean energy efforts. The region hosts major North American cities like Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, and Detroit, where growing electricity demand is driving innovation. While the five Great Lakes lack significant tides or currents, the connecting waterways offer substantial hydropower opportunities.
Last month, the Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), which has operated submersible projects in Alaska and Maine for years, announced its first urban venture on the St. Lawrence River in Montreal. Two hydroelectricity devices are set to begin operation later this year. "The St. Lawrence River is one of the best opportunities in North America for our technology because it has consistent, high-velocity water for hundreds of miles. In the Montreal area, there's 60-90 megawatts of resource potential alone," says ORPC CEO Stuart Davies.
Global Trends and North American Catch-Up
Current- and tidal-powered hydroelectric generators have gained popularity worldwide. In Scotland, the most powerful tidal hydro generator can power up to 2,000 homes, while Korea's Sihwa Lake tidal power station generates about 550 gigawatt-hours annually, equivalent to 862,000 barrels of oil. North America is now catching up, with projects like Orbital Marine Power's plan to deploy tidal devices in Nova Scotia's Bay of Fundy and ORPC's upcoming venture on the Niagara River in Buffalo, New York.
Rising Electricity Prices and Industrial Demand
The expansion of marine power generation coincides with surging electricity prices across the Great Lakes. Last September, the New York public service commission approved rate increases, significantly hiking bills for residents in western New York, including Buffalo. Further increases are scheduled for later this year and in 2027. Similar trends affect millions in Michigan and Ohio, where data centers are creating divisions between public administrators and communities.
Davies notes that while ORPC's devices generate only half a megawatt to five megawatts—far less than the demands of large data storage centers—they offer reliable power for industrial applications. "If you're an industrial customer and you're thinking about the growth of AI ... We can be that 24/7 electricity resource that's part of a baseload in normal times and if the grid goes down for some reason, that river still runs," he explains.
Environmental and Regulatory Challenges
Despite the potential, hydropower projects face hurdles. In the U.S., it takes an average of eight years to fully license a hydroelectricity facility, unlike in Quebec, where a longstanding hydropower culture results in low-cost electricity. Environmental concerns also arise, particularly regarding the impact on fish species and wildlife in waterways.
Anne KC McCooey of the Black Rock Riverside Alliance in Buffalo emphasizes the need for responsibility: "With regard to hydrokinetic energy in general, we are not opposed to it at all. Responsible, sustainable energy sources need to be encouraged. However, the key word is responsible. You can't put something up just for the sake of harnessing the energy, while at the same time doing harm [or potentially doing harm] to the environment." ORPC reports no fish injuries from its turbines in Alaska, where tens of millions of sockeye salmon migrate annually.
Innovations and Future Prospects
Scientists are developing technologies to harness energy from slower-moving waters. Michael Bernitsas, a professor at the University of Michigan, has tested a device called Vivace that can generate power from water moving as slow as half a meter per second. "The current there gets to about 2.3 to 2.5 knots, which is pretty slow for turbine technologies. But it's very easy for Vivace to harness that power," he says. These devices could be used for portable applications, such as powering NOAA buoys, with commercial availability estimated within two years, depending on funding.
Operating in the Great Lakes offers advantages, including the absence of saltwater corrosion, which reduces costs and extends material lifespan. Some projects can be anchored to riverbeds to avoid issues with surface ice in winter. ORPC is also planning a project on the lower Mississippi River for late next year.
Davies highlights the shifting competitive landscape: "The biggest [challenge] is just the lack of awareness of our solution, but that's really flipped in the last nine months. We still keep our 40-50% tax credit, while wind and solar [equivalents] are sunsetting." With investment and production tax credits for marine energy in the U.S. secured until at least 2033, interest has surged, with inquiries from over 70 countries.
