In her online article, Linda (2004)had used following words in favor of hydropower: As the many power, environmental and societal benefits of the hydropower resource are being debated in both national and international forums, the National Hydropower Association (NHA) offers twelve reasons why hydropower should be included in national and international renewable and sustainable energy initiatives. In fact, excluding hydropower would only shortchange both the national and global communities.
Excluding hydro would unnecessarily limit the tools available to policymakers as they wrestle with air pollution, a major health concern, and carbon emissions, a major contributor to global warming. Those advocating for a thoughtful, long-term and sustainable approach to dealing with these and other complex environmental issues should support hydropower and its many benefits. In short, we need hydropower more than ever.
12 REASONS TO INCLUDE HYDROPOWER IN RENEWABLE INITIATIVES
1) HYDROPOWER IS “RENEWABLE”
First and foremost, hydropower should be included in renewable energy policies because it is a renewable resource. Hydropower, by definition, is a renewable resource because it is produced from elemental, natural and recurrent resources. Hydropower converts rainfall (and snowfall) into energy.
Like wind, solar and geothermal, hydropower’s “fuel” is essentially infinite and is not depleted during the production of electricity. Hydropower facilities simply harness the natural energy of flowing and falling water to generate electricity. Therefore, all hydropower projects – small or large, run-of-river or with storage reservoirs – should be considered “renewable.”
2) HYDROPOWER HELPS IMPROVE THE AIR WE BREATHE
Since hydropower projects use water to generate electricity, they do not produce air pollution, which, among other things, causes considerable human health problems. Significant quantities of harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury, lead and other fine particulates are avoided through the use of hydropower facilities.
The health problems associated with air pollution, most notably respiratory and.......
