Chris Iovenko writes in The Washington Post on retrofitting current dams to produce hydropower.
- As the western United States faces drought, the Midwest and South could be posed for a hydropower boom.
- Hydropower advocates argue that retrofitting current dams to produce power could allow us to generate more clean, renewable energy.
- While federal investments are necessary, policymakers would be wise to reduce permitting and licensing regulations for current and new hydropower plants.
“Most American dams are more than 60 years old, and many have outlived their utility or present public safety risks. There is a consensus both in the hydroelectric industry and among environmentalists that these dams should be removed. However, there is growing interest on the part of hydroelectric companies to tap into the energy-producing potential of the nonpowered dams that remain essential to our infrastructure.”
Read the full article here.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
