Hydroelectric Power I:
Hoover
Dam
Historical Growth of Hydroelectric power:
- Currently Hydro power is 7% of the total US
Energy Budget. This has been going decreasing
with time
- This varies considerably with region
in the US due to the availability of freely
flowing streams
- Dam building really was initiated in the 1930's as part of
a public works program to combat the depression
- Low cost per KWH (see below) caused exponential increase of dam
building from 1950-1970 (lots of this on the Columbia)
- Since 1970 hydroproduction has levelled off and therefore becomes
an increasingly smaller percentage of the US energy budget.
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