Hydroelectric Power I:

Hoover Dam

Historical Growth of Hydroelectric power:

• Currently Hydro power is 7% of the total US Energy Budget. This has been going decreasing with time
• This varies considerably with region in the US due to the availability of freely flowing streams
• Dam building really was initiated in the 1930's as part of a public works program to combat the depression
• Low cost per KWH (see below) caused exponential increase of dam building from 1950-1970 (lots of this on the Columbia)
• Since 1970 hydroproduction has levelled off and therefore becomes an increasingly smaller percentage of the US energy budget.

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