Hydropower regaining favor as sustainable power source
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029087
Time : The generation of electricity via hydropower dams grew rapidly from the end of the 19th century through the first half of the 20th century. But by the 1960s, environmental concerns over the destructive effects on nearby ecosystems forced communities to find alternative power sources. Now, however, hydropower is seeing a resurgence in popularity because of the possibility of modifying existing dams so they can harness electricity. Of the some 80 000 dams in the US, just 2000 currently generate hydropower, according to Rocío Uria-Martinez, an energy researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Total hydropower capacity could be increased by 15–20% just by adapting existing structures.