Environmental Impacts of Hydropower
Learn about the environmental impacts of hydropower and learn how hydropower facilities must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act.
Transcript
I. Benefits of Hydropower
Hydroelectric power facilities provide many environmental benefits compared to coal-fired power plants or other fossil fuel-fired power plants. For example, hydropower produces very few greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions. Hydropower is generally classified as a renewable resource because snow and rain can replenish water flows in rivers as well as water supplies in a facility’s dam reservoir. Hydroelectric facilities are also generally considered baseload...