Rural Missouri - February 2023 - 4

RM | COOPERATION
The history of hydro
Dams provide affordable and renewable power
E
lectricity generated from hydropower tells an
interesting story about today's energy trends
that's deeper than just water fl owing over
the dam.
It's a story about a renewable resource that once
generated nearly a third of the nation's electricity;
a share that has declined dramatically over the
decades with the rise of nuclear power, natural gas
and even wind and solar.
More recently, it's a story about how weather
and climate can affect energy supplies, as the
extended drought -- especially in the western
United States -- has reduced the amount of water
available to generate power.
It's also a story about diversity in fuel sources.
Although hydropower is less a part of our energy
picture than it was in the early days of rural electrifi
cation, it's still a useful part of today's energy mix.
And in certain areas of the country, it's one of the
most important parts of a strong regional economy.
Hydropower works by converting falling water
into energy. That could come in the form of a waterwheel
turned by a fl owing river at an old Ozark mill,
or from a giant dam built on a river both for fl ood
control and to generate electricity.
Hydropower generates about 6% of the nation's
electricity, which mirrors hydro's mix in the generation
from Associated Electric Cooperative to electric
co-op members in Missouri, Oklahoma and Iowa.
That's not much compared to fuels like natural
gas and coal, which produced 13% and 60%
respectively of Associated Electric's generation in
2022. But those averages hide its importance.
Missouri's electric cooperatives worked hard to
make the fi ve federal hydroelectric projects in the
state a reality because they knew they would provide
a low-cost power source during an era when
members were using more and more electricity.
While fl owing water might seem to be an endless
energy source, recent weather patterns are redefi ning
the availability of this low-cost resource. Hydroelectric
generation fell 9% during 2021 because of
drought conditions.
Hydro has a lot going for it. It's one of the cheapest
forms of energy. Its normal operations don't
produce greenhouse gases. And utility grid operators
like its fl exibility as a source of electricity that
can be turned on and off relatively easily.
Those assets have raised interest in adding new
hydroelectric projects. Some $8 billion has been
invested over the past 15 years to add enough
4 RURAL MISSOURI | FEBRUARY 2023
Gov. John Dalton prepares to push the plunger during the
1964 ground breaking for what would become Truman Dam,
one of fi ve federal hydropower projects in Missouri. Dalton
helped establish several southeast Missouri electric co-ops.
capacity to power 1 million homes.
While many hydroelectric dams have been
around a long time and are ready to be retired, new
projects are planned, including modernizing older
hydro facilities. The Department of Energy reports
proposed projects that could generate enough electricity
to power yet another 1 million homes.
In addition to upgrading existing sites, DOE
reports at least 200 non-powered dams could have
generators added. Out of about 90,000 dams in the
U.S., only about 2,200 generate electric power.
Those efforts will be getting a boost from the federal
infrastructure law passed in 2021. That measure
includes more than $2 billion earmarked for
hydropower incentives for river restoration and dam
rehabilitation.
Hydropower doesn't always get the attention of
fl ashier advancements like wind and solar technologies.
But it's been around for 2,000 years, since the
Greeks used it to turn wheels that ground wheat
into fl our.
Only the future will tell how much of a role hydro
will play, but its time-tested techniques and green
energy benefi ts promise it will still be providing
some level of power 2,000 years from now.
- Paul Wesslund, NRECA
Rural Missouri - February 2023

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