Summary - Pumped Storage Hydro US 2026. Online registration by Cvent

The power sector in the United States must transform rapidly to cater to the increasing energy demand from data centers, support electrification of transport, industries, as well as buildings, allow the energy mix to change with greater penetration of infirm renewables, and be resilient in case of extreme weather events. Pumped storage has emerged as a critical enabler in this regard with 20 GW+ of installed projects across the country and many more in the pipeline.

Pumped storage is the most mature utility-scale long duration energy storage technology across the world, with capability to provide GW-scale ancillary and grid reliability services. A proven technology, it continues to be quite cost competitive with other storage systems in the market. With its vast untapped potential, it has been gaining the interest of policymakers, regulators, and developers in the US.

Roughly 18.8 GW of pumped storage projects have been licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as of January 2026 across 18 states. California leads amongst all the states with 4.2 GW of licensed pumped storage capacity. Further, the 2026 spending package approved by the US Senate allocates $79 million for hydropower and pumped storage projects. In addition, pumped storage projects are eligible for production and investment tax credits. However, concerted efforts are required to streamline permitting timelines, improve public perception, and introduce enabling policy measures at federal and state level.

In this context, REGlobal is organizing a one-day conference on Pumped Storage Hydro US on July 28, 2026, at Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel, San Francisco. This conference will bring together leading stakeholders in the US pumped storage sector including policymakers, regulators, developers, utilities, technology providers, EPC contractors, consultants, water authorities, manufacturers, grid operators, permitting bodies and industry experts. The discussion will focus on the benefits and potential, policy and regulatory measures, plans and experience of developers and investors, permitting and grid concerns, trends in technology innovation, design and EPC, and outlook for the pumped storage sector in US.