Many residents say publicly they support maintaining hydropower at Willamette River dams.

Stringer, G. (2023, November 16). Many residents say publicly they support maintaining hydropower at Willamette River dams. Oregoncapitcalchronicle. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/11/16/many-residents-near-willamette-river-want-dams-to-produce-hydropower/

In Willamette Valley, Oregon, there has been a debate of whether or not to keep the hydroelectric dam in the area. Many argue for the dam because of clean energy production, but the problem is that it is heavily impacting an endangered salmon species population in this area. Public meetings have been being hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Opinions from the public are being taken into account for this decision of whether to keep the dam or not. Concerns come with both sides of the debate. Many people believe that even with the removal of the damn, the salmon will still not be able to make a comeback and then we will have less clean energy. People also worry that the removal of this dam will cause a spike in energy prices in the area. And of course, if we keep the dam the salmon population will stay endangered, declining until its inevitable extinction. The Corps is still waiting for more public feedback before passing the issue to congress who will have the most say in the matter. 

 

The main problem with dams is the large environmental impact that most of them have. Whether it is directly on the land they are located in, species in the area, or water quality, dams are always have a bad affect on the environment. I think that taking the publics opinion is very important to know what will make the community happy, and to hear new ideas and thoughts on the matter that they may not have taken into consideration before. This is a very relevant topic today, because this is not just happening in this area in Oregon. There are thousansds of dams across the United States that are having the same, or very similar issues. I wonder why this was not accounted for when they were being created? If dams are still constructed in the future, what will we do to change them to make sure problems like these do not happen again. I think because we already have so many, it would be hard to restart what we have already done, but with new technology today im sure we could make much more environmental friendly and safe dams across the United States. 

Green Groups Are Divided Over a Proposal to Boost the Nation’s Hydropower. Here’s Why.

Myskow, W., & Tigue, K. (2023, September 1). Green Groups Are Divided Over a Proposal to Boost the Nation’s Hydropower. Here’s Why. Insideclimatenews. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01092023/green-groups-divided-over-proposal-to-boost-hydropower-climate-change-emissions/

 

The hydropower industry is looking for support so it can be used as a primary option for the nation’s transition to clean energy. The bipartisan bill, from senators Daines and Cantwell is going to be used to accelerate the process that the dams undergo to become licensed and legal. With the large amount of dams in the country it will take a long time, but with enough of the money and resources we need, many think that hydropower can be a vital part of our transition to clean energy. On the other hand, many think that hydropower is not reliable and should not be used. It has many negative environmental impacts, and have carbon emissions that come from dam reservoirs, as well as harming ecosystems. A large argument is between the two parties of environmental protection and energy development priorities. 

 

This article highlights the issues between the two groups of environmental portection, and energy development priorities. It all comes down to whether we think that hydropower is a viable source that can support our needs for energy without sacrificing to much. Many people think that hydropower should not be used due to its environmental impacts, maintencince, cost, etc. Others believe that since they are already here we should focus on them and improve them. This is an interesting topic because many efforts are to destroy dams and restore habitats and ecosystems.  

Over $7 billion to invest: America wants to protect its water

(2023, October 25). Over $7 billion to invest: America wants to protect its water. Webuildvalue.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://www.webuildvalue.com/en/global-economy-sustainability/water-investments-usa.html

 

The environmental protection agency (EPA) is using billions of dollars from the bipartisan job act to focus on our water infrastructure. This money will be used to address the needs of thousands of outdated and aging dams The USACE will take ccontrol of this effort and manage the vast network of dams across the country. The WIFIA program has been funded with $7.5 billion, and their main focus will be on impoverished and disadvantaged communities. Along with these projects, other companies like WeBuild Group will be helping with major projects, with their focus on flood management and water quality. With all of these companies and efforts, the United States is aiming to take control of the situation at hand, having around 91,000 dams in the country, most of which contracts have already expired or will be expired by the year of 2027.

 

This article is all about the upcoming efforts of companies and programs like the EPA, USACE and WIFIA. They now have access to billions of dollars from the bipartisan job act to focus on the rissing issue of our water infrastructure, mainly focused on dams. This is a problem all throughout the country, with many dams contracts expiring soon and quickly. With the removal of dams comes lots of problems like flooding, sediment release, water quality, etc. This is why groups like the WeBuild Group will be helping out, with their main focus on less fortunate areas. Now our country has a good plan to tackle this urgent issue. I think the strategy we are using is great, by harnessing billions of dollars we are able to get the funding we need and never had previously. We are in a great position now to get this problem figured out. 

Hydropower delays pose grid threat as permits lapse

Willson, M. (2023, September 20). Hydropower delays pose grid threat as permits lapse. Eenews.net. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://www.eenews.net/articles/hydropower-delays-pose-grid-threat-as-permits-lapse/

This article discusses the expiration of licenses and permits for dams in the United States, with focus on the Oroville Damn in California. Many dams, including the Oroville Dam has been wating over a decade for their permits By 2027 around 160 dams will have expired permits, known as licenses, and this is not including the ones that already have expired licenses right now. They must receive a new permit from the FERC. The small town of Oroville, located in the sierra mountains, downstream of the damn, has been waiting for a new license for 17 years. This is bringing up worry about clean energy for this area. Hydropower contributed about 6% of the countries clean energy last year. 

 

This article shines light on the worries of the people, especially in the are of Oroville. It shows the concern for the future of hydroelectric power. With all of the permits that are going to expire, the FERC is going to have lots of work on their hands. Damns all across the country are going to need new permits to operate. With hydroelectric power making 6% of our total clean energy, we will take a hit from this. And with other issues arising from climate change in general, we are in trouble. 

The Largest Dam Removal Project in U.S. History Begins Final Stretch, Welcoming Salmon Home

Thorsberg, C. (2024, January 22). The Largest Dam Removal Project in U.S. History Begins Final Stretch, Welcoming Salmon Home. Smithsonianmag.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-largest-dam-removal-project-in-us-history-begins-final-stretch-welcoming-salmon-home-180983621/

 

The Klamath River, which runs through California and Oregon, is going to undergo the largest damn removal in the history of the United States. One of the main concerns of this river is the health of the salmon in this river along with the health of the river itself. The opening of the Iron Gate Damn is a crucial step towards the removal of three other damns aswell. The opening of the Iron Gate Damn started off with just a small crack, then being opened to a three foot wide crack. When it was opened dark brown water was released due to the sediment buildup. This has drained the reservoir by two to four feet per day. This effort will restore hundreds of miles of salmon habitat, along with restorning usable water for indigenous tribes and others that work, use, and live on the river.

The removal of this damn is incredibly important for many people, and the overall health of the river. This 173 foot damn that is being removed has lots of sediment buildup and requires lots of thought and effort to take down. Starting small, the damn was just cracked enough so little water could flow out as to not flood the river. The effects that the removal of this damn will be crucial to the removal of the rest of the damns in the area, along with removal of damns all over the country due to the fact that this is the largest damn removal in the history of the United States. 

Green Groups Are Divided Over a Proposal to Boost the Nation’s Hydropower. Here’s Why

Inside Climate News. (2023, September 1). Green Groups Are Divided Over a Proposal to Boost the Nation’s Hydropower. Here’s Why. Retrieved January 28th, from 

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01092023/green-groups-divided-over-proposal-to-boost-hydropower-climate-change-emissions/

 

The industry for hydropower is looking to again become a primary producer of clean energy and to be able to increase the use of this hydroelectricity. Hydropower was once looked at to be a large part of the future for clean energy but was outperformed by its rivals such as wind and solar energy. Now, they are trying to argue that this hydropower can and will be very beneficial and provide the needed power that can be effectively used by many. A new bill has been introduced that would be able to accelerate the licensing process for these projects. This bill so far has gained lots of early support by many groups and it seems that it is going very well in the right direction, though it still has some pushback against it. It seems a growing study shows that dams can have significant carbon emissions. It seems that a lot of the pushback is coming from these emissions that will also contribute to climate change. Even though these bills are trying to be passed so this process of building these dams can be sped up, it seems it’s very possible that they could potentially be speeding up climate change. It has many groups thinking about this bill and having their opinions spread in many different ways. 

 

This article explains how while many people are for this type of energy and want increased dams that will allow for hydroelectric power, a lot of people are also against it. This is related to environmental science because we have talked about how this can very possibly be a big part of clean energy in the future but it seems that a lot of people actually don’t want it, and that’s also because it gives out carbon emissions on a large enough scale that it will not be as beneficial as previously thought. It seems that a lot of these so-called solutions actually have potential downsides that really do put in question their ability to be a working, efficient, and sustainable source of energy for the future.

Conservationists, tribes say dealing with the Biden administration is a road map to breach Snake River dams

AP News. (2023, December 14). Conservationists, tribes say dealing with the Biden administration is a road map to breach Snake River dams. Retrieved January 27th, from

https://apnews.com/article/salmon-tribes-snake-river-dam-energy-336a20cf02093fcdd725cb3047af8f29

 

The US government has recently claimed that they want to put forth over 1 billion dollars over the next ten years in an attempt to recover some of the depleted populations of Salmon that are in and around the Pacific Northwest as well as how to offset the benefits of the dams on the Snake River. The Biden administration as well as tribes and conservationists are now working together to be able to find a fair and equal solution to this problem that they are having with the lack of salmon. A new agreement has been made. The representative of Washington feels concerned that they will not have the proper energy, irrigation, or other benefits and that this was a decision made without them being involved. Under the agreement, the US will create and build more projects that will be able to produce clean energy that is replacing the dams that were built. It also says that additional water will be provided to counteract the issue. 300 million dollars is being spent to restore the fish. 

 

This article talks about issues that are affecting the wildlife around these. This is related to environmental science because we have also before talked about how these dams have an effect on the sea animals around them. For example, Lonely Larry the sock-eyed salmon. He was all by himself because of these dams that had been built and had lost the rest of his family. The issue with this is the loss of necessary energy from these dams and whether that energy will be able to be replaced by other projects. But on top of that too, the tribes are worried that if they are not taken down then the fish will not be able to live like they were once able to.

Hydropower delays pose grid threat as permits lapse

 

E&E News. (2023, September 20). Hydropower delays pose grid threat as permits lapse. Retrieved January 27th, from 

https://www.eenews.net/articles/hydropower-delays-pose-grid-threat-as-permits-lapse/

 

There have been over a dozen major hydroelectric projects in the past ten years that have been waiting for permits so that they can be built. Due to how long this process is taking, there is uncertainty about the future of clean energy for the planet, especially due to the increase of climate change and planet temperature. If these projects are continuously delayed or the permits for these projects expire, then it could mean problems for how reliable the power grid can be. Because hydroelectricity is a very large and important source of renewable energy then taking dams away and or not adding new ones could potentially risk losing lots of power that can be used by humans for any reasons necessary. It could also very well affect areas that have a very high reliance on this type of renewable energy. Taking away these sources could possibly leave some places in a very poor position. It says that these dams are needed so that California and the world as a whole can slash emissions.  

 

This article talks about the current issues that are going on with hydroelectric dams and the energy that is being collected from them. This is related to environmental science because we are talking about climate change and require ways to produce cleaner energy and lower emissions so that we can try and attempt to slow, stop, or reverse the effects that it is and will have on our planet. We have also before talked about how dams can be very environmentally unfriendly and that’s why some don’t like them as well as why people want them discontinued and or removed because of how they are impacting the environment and even ecosystems around them.

 

Global hydropower generation to fall in 2023

In China, hydropower production is expected to decrease by 7% annually, will lead the decline in 2023. Dry weather patterns since the last part of 2022 have seriously impacted hydropower age. When compared to the same period in 2022, the first half of 2023 saw a 22% decline in generation. The southwestern piece of the country, which creates the greater part of China’s hydroelectricity in a typical year, was among the most terrible impacted. The impacts of the continuous El Niño climate peculiarity will most likely acquire weighty downpours the region and across southern China, however it is probably not going to move the entire year age picture particularly. The nation represents about 33% of worldwide hydropower creation, so this fall will be sufficient to counterbalance any additions in different areas of the planet.

Warm and dry weather patterns are likewise being knowledgeable about a significant part of the US and Canada, pulling down their true capacity for hydropower age. Canada gets 60% of its electricity from hydropower, and production is expected to stay the same in 2023 as it was in 2022. A power shortfall emerging out of hydro power supply might spike higher age from gas-terminated power stations. Despite the fact that the United States has a low dependence on hydropower, generation in the first half of this year was down by 7% compared to the same period in 2022 as a result of conditions that were drier than usual in key hydropower states. In 2023, we anticipate a slight decline in hydropower generation in the United States.

Consumers Energy exploring possible sale of 13 hydroelectric dams …

In 11 years, the company’s dam licenses will begin to expire. According to Consumers Energy, the dams produce less than one percent of the energy required by its customers as a whole. In an effort to continue reducing its greenhouse-warming carbon emissions, Consumers Energy announced in 2021 that it would stop using coal to generate electricity by 2025 and instead use natural gas and renewable energy sources. The utility said that under that plan, by 2040, it would get 90% of its energy from clean sources, including 8,000 megawatts of solar power.

Consumers Energy’s Vice President of Generation Operations, Norm Kapala, stated in a press release, “But we also know that the current model for financing our hydroelectric power operations requires customers to pay more than nine times for the cost of energy compared to other sources of generation.” The utility, which gives flammable gas and power to clients in Michigan’s Lower Promontory, said it held a progression of public gatherings keep going year on the eventual fate of its dams. This summer, more meetings are expected.