Trump signed a $6.1 billion spending bill Tuesday that gives hydropower a big, long-awaited victory by establishing two government task forces that speed up the construction of electricity-producing dams.

The bipartisan water infrastructure bill, which funds the maintenance of waterways, harbors, and canals, also creates two task forces meant to expedite licensing procedures to turn normal dams into renewable energy power plants, while also boosting the number of hydropower pump storage plants that could help move more solar and wind onto the grid.

Recommended Stories

Power grid operator bashes utility’s plea for Rick Perry to save coal, nuclear plants

Puerto Rico’s fossil fuel power plants fared better than solar and wind, say feds

Biden is sleepwalking into a summer energy crisis