Hydropower: The Hoover Dam

A few years ago, my family took a week-long trip to Nevada and Arizona. While driving from Nevada to Arizona, we stopped at the Hoover Dam for a few minutes and took pictures and marveled at the sheer size of the dam. However, while I was there, I never realized how much clean, renewable energy that the the Hoover Dam generates for our country.

The Hoover Dam is a great source of clean and renewable hydropower. The Hoover Dam began construction in 1931 and was completed in 1936. At the time, it generated more electric power than anywhere else in the world and was the largest concrete structure. Most of the energy produced by the Hoover Dam goes to one of four places, Met Water District of Southern California, the state of Nevada, the state of Arizona, or Los Angeles, California.

The Hoover Dam has many important functions for the surrounding areas, as well as the environment. The dam releases no greenhouse gases, except for the gases that were released during its construction. It also manages the Colorado River, prevents floods, and provides farmers with a regular water supply.

The Hoover Dam generates electricity using hydropower. Hydropower is the power generated by moving water. Dams are often built on a large river, so the water falls down from the top of the dam. At the bottom of the dam, the water rotates a large turbine, which results in energy production in a generator. Approximately 20% of the world's power is generated by hydropower.

There are two major factors that determine how much power will be generated by the dam: the amount of water and the height that it falls. Because Hoover Dam is so tall (approximately 726 feet) and is situated on a large river (the Colorado River) it provides a relatively large amount of energy that could be used to power all of Los Angeles, California.

The major proponents of hydropower argue that it is a great source of energy because it is free and readily found in nature. It also does not use up water in its production of energy, rather it just moves it. The people that argue against hydropower note that changing the way that the water flows greatly disrupts fish migration and disrupts the natural system. For example, because of building the Hoover Dam about four species of fish are considered endangered as a result.


http://www.enviro-news.com/article/hoover_dam_nevada.html
http://www.benefits-of-recycling.com/alternativeenergywater.html

For more information on hydropower:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=hydropower_home-basics-k.cfm
http://www.lenntech.com/water-energy-faq.htm