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