It is summertime, and as many folks head to the beach or the lake (or even a river rafting expedition for the more adventurous among us), we should take a moment to reflect on the fact that bodies of water are not just for relaxing by. National Hydropower Day is sponsored by the National Hydro Association. And while sitting poolside or dockside this month, perhaps take a moment to think about hydropower being one of the oldest forms of clean energy in the world.
In the United States, hydroelectric dams began generating power almost from the very beginning of the Electric Age, with the first plant paired with one of Thomas Edison’s electric generators entering operation in Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1882. With the support of the federal government, hydroelectric dams began being constructed all around the United States, culminating in perhaps the most famous energy facility in the country – the Hoover Dam.
Built by 21,000 men over five years, amid the Great Depression, the Hoover Dam was rated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the United States’ Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders. According to the Federal Bureau of Reclamation, the 726-foot-tall, 6.6-million-ton dam spanning the Colorado River produces about 4 billion kWh of electricity annually, which is consumed by over 1.3 million residents of Nevada, Arizona, and California.
Hydropower is not just for those who live in the American Southwest, of course. Hydropower has consistently produced clean electricity around the country, with nearly 80 GW of installed capacity in the United States as of 2023. This capacity powers tens of millions of homes and businesses each year, representing almost a quarter of all renewable electricity produced and consumed in the country.
While hydropower has been around for decades, that does not mean the industry has not continued to innovate. Newer forms of generation produced from the flow of water include tidal power, wave power and pumped storage. As hydropower continues into its second century of powering American homes and businesses, it represents the enduring strength of the American people’s ability to innovate and harness their abundant natural resources for the betterment of society.
If you are interested in learning how you can support hydropower and other forms of renewable energy, start by finding out if you live in one of the many states that allow you to select an energy supplier. You can explore the options available in your state by visiting the Retail Energy Supply Association’s Energy Choice 101 webpage. Many suppliers offer products based explicitly on hydropower and other types of clean electricity.Â
So, this summer, whether by the ocean, along the river, on the dock, or just in your backyard, join RESA in raising a glass (of water, obviously) to America’s original renewable energy – hydropower.
