 |
 |
|
Hydropower is the renewable energy source that produces the most electricity in the United States. Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of energy. It was used thousands of years ago to turn a paddle wheel for purposes such as grinding grain. The first hydro-electric plant opened on the Fox River, Wisconsin, on September 30,1882. Did you know that the Safe Harbor Dam on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania has elevators that lift migrating shad from the base of the dam to top of the reservoir. So just how do we get electricity from water? Actually, hydroelectric and coal-fired power plants produce electricity in a similar way. In both cases a power source is used to turn a propeller-like piece called a turbine, which then turns a metal shaft in an electric generator, which is the motor that produces electricity. Disadvantages: Disadvantages of hydroelectric energy include that the dams can be rather expensive to build. There also needs to be enough supply of water to create energy, and that supply of water needs to be powerful. |
||
