The Basics
Dates: September 21 – 25, 2026
Event Location: Phoenix Convention Center | Phoenix, Arizona
100 N 3rd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Questions: 816.588.4639 or send an email.
Highlights for the week 
Technical tours, outdoor activities, and early networking—ease in, get your bearings, and start making the right connections. 
Workshops, seminars, and meetings keep the ideas flowing. Then we take over Chase Field—home of the Arizona Diamondbacks—for a night that blends baseball, food, and just the right amount of networking. 
A plenary session opens the day, then CC Central comes alive—your all-in-one space for exhibits, education, networking, and lunch. The day concludes with a fun networking reception right in CC Central. 
Another plenary session and then all day in CC Central connecting and learning. Wrap up with the Prize Giveaways in the Innovation Power House, then end the night at the “After Dark” informal gathering. 
Hit the water with a kayaking adventure, gather your CC swag, and enjoy a final round of networking before saying goodbye until next year.
The Official All-Encompassing Water Power Event That’s for the Industry, by the Industry.
Clean Currents—the official water power trade show + conference of the non-profit National Hydropower Association—heads to Phoenix, Arizona in 2026. Join us to make water power connections that can transform your career, your operation—and our industry.
September 21-25 | Phoenix, Arizona
Yes, that’s right … We’re bringing Clean Currents 2026 to Phoenix, Arizona, the largest city in the Sonoran Desert! But it makes perfect sense. What this area lacks in surface water, it makes up for through a complex and innovative aqueduct system, a network of water power dam projects, and a regional focus on conservation due to pervasive droughts. In fact, as changing weather patterns around the world impact water access and power generation, Phoenix offers a unique setting where the water power industry can face sustainability and energy security challenges head on.
Designed with industry input and driven by industry needs, proceeds from Clean Currents will fund NHA’s work to secure water power’s place as a climate-friendly, renewable, and reliable energy source that serves national environmental, energy, and economic policy objectives. At Clean Currents, you’ll see that Hydro is heading toward a more sustainable future for the industry!
Six Reasons to Attend Clean Currents
CONNECT with the right people from across an invested water power community. More than a thousand water power professionals are expected to attend, from our core community of power producers to industry suppliers/partners and subject matter experts.
MAXIMIZE your professional development dollars. Clean Currents makes learning from peers throughout the North American water power industry easy and efficient. Just a few focused days away from your desk sets you up for long-term success in your role.
EXPLORE the latest solutions from across the water power supply chain. Learn how to improve operations, ensure safety, and support environmental sustainability.
EXPERIENCE innovation and visionary thinking and gain new insights. Hear from speakers with an eye toward the future and engage in thought-provoking discussions.
BUILD the clean energy future. Capitalize on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, drive innovation, address water power workforce development, and find answers to industry challenges.
SUPPORT your industry’s advocate. Reinvested proceeds from Clean Currents help fund the National Hydropower Association’s advocacy efforts for the water power industry—improving the industry for all of us.
See our “Who Should Attend” section for more reasons to join us in Phoenix!
How your contributions support the growth and success of the water power industry
100%
of the funds
raised during Clean Currents are reinvested in support of our industry
$750
Million
in funds earmarked in the investment & infrastructure act
30%
increase
in tax credits for new pumped storage for 10 years
Legal support on landmark cases moving through the courts
The Clean Currents Story
By the Industry. For the Industry. For Now and Into the Future.
The headwaters that formed the National Hydropower Association’s Clean Currents tradeshow + conference originated from a desire throughout the water power community that it was time for the industry, in particular, NHA, to develop a bold, new event that would bring the industry together for the betterment of the industry.
The vision was an event dedicated to advancing conventional hydropower, pumped storage, small hydro, and marine energy as reliable and flexible sources of clean energy now and into the future. This vision aligned with NHA’s growth and evolution in its leadership to position water power for success in the decades to come.
We Began With Industry Feedback …
We started by listening to water power’s generators, manufacturers, and suppliers. In 2018, NHA began to solicit input from members and non-members on industry event wants and needs. Our process included in-depth listening sessions with NHA members.
As a result of the input we were gathering, the NHA Board of Directors created a “New Event” Advisory Committee in 2019. The committee was charged with setting in motion a plan to develop a new water power event that would launch in 2021.
…Then Created Clean Currents to Meet Industry Needs
The constructive dialogue and insights gathered during our listening phase guided us to design the Clean Currents experience around:
Reinvestment in our Industry
A key driver in the creation of Clean Currents was the observation by NHA and industry representatives that the returns on investments in national events were not necessarily flowing back into the industry. Proceeds from Clean Currents fund NHA’s work to secure hydropower’s place as a climate-friendly, renewable, and reliable energy source that serves national environmental, energy, and economic policy objectives.
Innovation and Growth
We identified a need for a “space” that would foster industry research and development, information exchange, and innovation. This is critical to help the industry grow its current 101 gigawatts (GW) of capacity by nearly 50 GW by 2050, as outlined in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydropower Vision report, published in 2016. Facilitating innovation is also critical to harnessing the potential 90 GW from marine energy estimated by the U.S. hydropower industry. We’re thinking forward! A spirit of innovation and growth flows through all aspects of Clean Currents—from conference programming to the tradeshow floor. Together, we will explore ways to leverage promising new technologies along with proven products and solutions to increase hydropower generation.
A Better Mix of Attendee Types
There was a general consensus among those we spoke with that other national hydropower events don’t offer the desired mix of owner/operator attendees and industry vendors, which are over-represented. Power producers support Clean Currents—1 in every 3 attendees of Clean Currents 2022 was a power producer. 39% of 2021 attendees were water power industry leaders and decision-makers.
A Bigger Tent
Before the formation of Clean Currents, there wasn’t one event that would allow all sectors of the water power industry to convene, communicate, and collaborate. Clean Currents brings together professionals from conventional hydropower, pumped storage, small hydro, marine energy, government agencies, regulators, NGOs, and consultants. Clean Currents continues to attract a full spectrum of industry roles, including executive leadership, engineers, portfolio managers, operations superintendents/managers, portfolio managers, general managers, and subject matter experts. See our Who Should Attend section for more reasons to join us in Phoenix!
Expanded Education
Industry perceptions of education opportunities available at other national events are that they are too focused on technical education or that the content changes little from year to year. Furthermore, exhibiting organizations do not have access to educational programming. Clean Currents’ educational programming is unique, comprehensive, accessible, and driven by industry thought leaders. Topics include safety, security, markets, environmental enhancement, engineering, operations and maintenance, licensing/regulatory, and more.
About NHA
The National Hydropower Association is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to promoting the growth of clean, affordable US water power in all of its forms, ranging from conventional hydropower to pumped storage to marine energy. It seeks to secure water power’s place as a climate-friendly, renewable, and reliable energy source that serves national environmental, energy, and economic policy objectives.
NHA represents more than 300 organizations in the North American water power industry, from Fortune 500 corporations to family-owned small businesses.
All proceeds from Clean Currents will go directly toward funding the work of NHA.