POWER Our Reservoirs Act

This bill directs the Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers to assess the feasibility of installing floating solar panels on their reservoir projects. It requires an 18-month assessment evaluating economic, environmental, and technical factors - including evaporation reduction, energy benefits, and impacts on recreation - before establishing pilot programs. The pilot programs would allow up to 50% federal cost-sharing for non-Federal partners (like private companies) to deploy floating solar, with $12 million allocated for Reclamation projects and $2 million for Corps projects in fiscal year 2024. The bill explicitly states it won’t interfere with the existing purposes of these water projects, such as irrigation or flood control.