Hydroelectric Power Plants in the United States

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According to the US Geological (USGS) hydroelectricpower is one of the most important renewable source of energy but only about 7 percent of total power is produced by hydroelectric power plants in the United States.

The negative environmental impacts were big factors that prevented the government to proceed with this undertaking. Surrounding valleys with existing towns, farmlands, pastures, and scenic locations can be permanently flooded. This can also disrupt the wildlife habitats and destroy existing fish life. Blocked river passages will prevent the arrival of migrating fishes like the salmon.

The only solution considered to fully harness the existing hydroelectric power plants to provide renewable and cleaner energy was at least modify the old ones.

There was also no assurance that hydroelectric power generation could reduce the production of greenhouse gases. Plant materials in newly flooded areas will decay in an environment with low levels of oxygen, thereby producing more potent greenhouse gases like methane.

A hydroelectric power plant converts water pressure into electricity. As a renewable source, it can endlessly sustain the production of hydroelectricity by using the gravitational force of falling or flowing water and water turbines.

It turns the potential energy of water gathered in dam reservoirs in high places, into moving kinetic energy that rotates the turbines. The turbines generate electricity by turning magnets around stationary metal coils, until changes in the magnet’s polarity produces Alternating Currents; or what we know as AC. The power generated passes through transformers to increase the voltage and send them to distribution facilities, in-charge of sending and regulating electricity through power lines. Only then will electricity become available in our homes.

The second type of hydroelectric power is the one that takes advantage of the rising and the falling tides and the strong currents near estuaries. This one uses turbines that come in the form of rolling logs with horizontally placed axes exposed to the sea. As the tide rises and falls, the horizontal protrusions will spin like a log to generate electricity. Similar to its dam counterpart, it will send the raw power to transformers and distribution facilities for regulation.

In as much as hydroelectric power gets its energy from falling, flowing, or tidally moving water, production of electrical energy has no direct waste and an almost zero level of greenhouse gas. Due to the absence of combustion, there is no emission of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, dust, or other pollutants.

Another advantage is the elimination of the cost of imported fuel to run the system. Hydroelectric plants use fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, or coal. In addition, since the plant runs under full automation, labor cost is low.

The upgrading of these hydropower facilities is all about increasing the sources of clean energy through the use of hydroelectric power systems without the need to build new dams or making any modifications to existing ones to back up the hydropower plant’s capacity and ability to increase its efficiency.

Upgrading hydroelectric power plants without the need to resort to civil works will provide a less expensive way of increasing renewable energy which is placed at an average estimated cost of less than 4 cents per kWh. The absence of undertaking dam constructions or modifications will also speed up the process of modernizing seven hydroelectric power plants in order to meet the ultimate goal of stimulating the economy.

Eventually, having more inexpensive sources of renewable energy will perk up the economic condition in every local community thus, create more employment opportunities.

The main objectives of the $30.6 million undertaking include improvement of water intakes and implementing newer control systems that will increase power generation. In addition, more efficient and fish friendly turbines will be utilized to lessen any negative environmental impact that these power plants are causing.

The $30.6 million Recovery Funds will be released to modernize the following hydroelectric power plants in the United States:

Alabama Power Company- About $6 million will be allotted to three hydroelectric plants located along the Coosa River in Mitchell, Alabama will have four units upgraded by replacing the vintage turbines dating back from the 1940s to the 1960s with highly-modernized stainless steel turbines that can increase the hydropower plants’ efficiency by generating additional 36,087 MWh annually renewable energy.

Find the continuation of the hydroelectric power plants' modernization projects on the next page.