[LMB] "Civilization isn't just electricity."

[Nancy L. Barber]

At 12:39 PM -0600 2/7/08, Lois McMaster Bujold wrote:
>The thing I wonder is, why isn't more being done to bring more
>hydroelectric on line in the U.S.?  Talk about a proven system, and
>green as all get-out.  Geography?  Politics?  Does anyone know why this
>isn't being more promoted?

Geography and environmental effects, is my understanding.
Large-scale hydro takes a good-sized river with a good
amount of 'fall' to get adequate head. The prime sites for
hydro dams in the U.S. have largely been exploited.

Small-scale hydro has many more potential sites, but then
each plant is smaller (natch). Small-scale plants are mostly
used for power for a single smallish industry, for example.

Environmentally, building a dam and reservoir alters the
flow regime of the river downstream, interferes with fish
migration,  changes the habitat for a large stretch of stream,
and so forth. All these factors all go on the cost side of any
cost-benefit analysis of new hydro.

    Nancy Barber