| Approximately ten percent of energy produced | | | | When needs increase, the water is released |
| in the United States is from hydropower. In | | | | from the upper reservoir back to the lower |
| this process, water spins in turbines in | | | | reservoir for electricity generation. |
| generators. | | | | |
| | | | Hydroelectric plants require a lot of land in |
| Hydropower is one of the renewable energy | | | | order to build a dam and reservoir. This |
| sources being researched and implemented to | | | | requires a great deal of money, time and |
| replace fossil fuels, which are in the | | | | construction. There are not many ideal places |
| process of depletion. It does not produce | | | | to put them and most of these have already |
| carbon dioxide, as coal power stations do, | | | | been taken. The good thing is once |
| making it a cleaner, as well as, cheaper | | | | constructed; the electricity is free to |
| alternate way to produce electricity. It is | | | | produce. Due to costs, the tendency will be |
| also renewable, with the help of rainwater | | | | to put up smaller hydro plants that are more |
| for replenishment. | | | | economical. |
| | | | |
| The impoundment facility is the most common | | | | Hydroelectric plants using dams have a |
| type of hydropower facilities. A dam is built | | | | negative effect on the environment. Through |
| on a large river or lake to store its water | | | | the construction of a dam, there is a |
| in a reservoir. When water is released from | | | | blockage of the flow from upstream to |
| the reservoir through tunnels it flows | | | | downstream. This disrupts the migration |
| through a turbine. Since the height of the | | | | pattern of fish. Fish can also be killed |
| water behind the walls is so great, the | | | | passing through the turbines. An advantage to |
| released water goes through the turbine with | | | | hydropower is the ability to control energy |
| a great force of energy. As the turbine | | | | release to meet changing demands. |
| spins, it sets in motion a generator, which | | | | |
| in turn produces electricity. The water then | | | | The population is growing and so will its |
| travels back into the stream or river below. | | | | power needs. Fossil fuels are being used up |
| Networks of transmission lines and facilities | | | | and there will come a time when they will be |
| carry the electricity from the generator to | | | | depleted. We need to turn to renewable energy |
| users in a form they can use. The Hoover Dam | | | | sources to meet our needs. Natural resources |
| is an illustration of the process just | | | | seem to be a natural solution. Hydroelectric |
| described. When it was initially built, it | | | | plants can meet our power needs without |
| produced enough electricity for the entire | | | | worries of depletion or pollution. It is also |
| city of Las Vegas. As Las Vegas grew, they | | | | the most reliable source available today. |
| turned to other energy sources | | | | Research and development is ongoing to |
| | | | provide a solution to the damage a dam can |
| The pumped storage hydro plant facility is | | | | do. The potential for hydroelectricity is |
| able to store power. It does so by pumping | | | | within our grasp and we must find a way to |
| water from a lower reservoir to an upper | | | | make this work. |
| reservoir during low energy demand periods. | | | | |