The U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing this week on legislation that could further improve conditions for hydroelectric project development.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is hoping to create a "small hydropower roadmap" for the state's agriculture through its Advancing Colorado's Renewable Energy (ACRE) program.

Approval from the Scottish government will allow hydrokinetic developer Aquamarine Power to construct what will become the world's largest fully-permitted ocean energy site.

Manufacturers Alstom and Voith have begun producing a hydropower rotor for Brazil's 1,850-MW Teles Pires hydroelectric project which, the companies said, will be Latin America's largest rotor when complete.

The National Hydropower Association is hoping that its inaugural Hydropower Finance Summit will help foster relationships between investors and developers in the hydroelectric industry.

The Indian government has announced its plan to divest a 10% share in state-run hydroelectric power company Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) India Ltd in an effort to raise US$91 million this fiscal year, HydroWorld.com has learned.

State-owned power company Administracion Nacional de Usinas y Transmisiones Electricas (UTE) has announced its plan to develop a 70 MW hydroelectric project on Uruguay's Rio Negro, sources report.

Officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are hoping to lay the first foundation stone for the 40,000-MW Grand Inga hydropower project in October 2015, HydroWorld.com has learned.

The Panama Hydroelectrical Development Company has received an extension from utilities regulator Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Publicos (Asep) to complete work on the 28-MW Santa Maria hydroelectric project.

Tajikistan will be home to six new small hydropower plants by the end of the year, according to a release from the country's Ministry of Energy and Industry earlier this week.

China's Ministry of Environmental Protection has approved what could become the country's tallest hydropower plant, despite concerns regarding the project's impact on plants and rare fish.

Capital investment and trading conglomerate Mitsui & Co. has announced it will acquire about 20% equity of ESBR Participacoes S.A., owner of Brazil's 3,750-MW Jirau hydroelectric project, per an agreement with GDF Suez.