Super Eco

Photo credit: chalkie_colour_circles, Flickr

Hydropower is a renewable energy source produced from harnessing the power of water. Utilized thousands of years ago to turn a paddle wheel for various uses including grinding grain, hydropower is one the oldest sources of energy and the United States first used it to create electricity in 1880. This energy source is now responsible for 6 percent of America's electricity and over one-half of the total U.S. hydroelectric capacity for electricity generation is concentrated in three States: Washington, California, and Oregon.

Hydropower has been regarded by some as the ideal fuel for generating electricity. It is thought as such due to the fact that their are no waste products, it does not pollute the water or air, and it is practically free. It does, however, receive criticism because the structures used to harness the energy changes the natural environment and effects natural habitats. One of the main concerns is the impact on migrating fish, specifically, salmon. The structure of some hydropower plants adds a huge obstacle to the already difficult process of swimming up stream to spawn. Fish ladders were built to help resolve this issue.