Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions by Powering Non-Powered Dams
Data appears to indicate that clearly defined changes have occurred over the past century or so to the earth’s climate. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicates that average temperature is one of the most highly cited indicators of climate change. On average, global temperatures have risen 1.4°F since the early 20th Century. These numbers indicate that although the U.S. has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, the U.S. should still begin work on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 15% through an increased utilization of hydropower by 2050. This goal will be accomplished by powering 100 non-powered federally owned dams. The vast majority, 81 dams, are currently owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, while the remaining 19 are owned by other federal agencies. A Department of Energy (DOE) report indicated that by 2050 hydropower could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a cumulative 5.6 gigatonnes, which is the equivalent of nearly 1.2 billion passenger vehicles driven per year. This is why the DOE suggested that the majority of hydroelectric growth by 2030 will occur by powering non-powered dams. A Public Opinion Strategies poll conducted of 2016 presidential elections voters found similar results about opinions regarding climate change and hydropower. In the survey, 61% of voters indicated that we should have more emphasis on hydropower. Dams can obstruct the natural migration of fish, change natural water temperatures, obstruct natural flows and silt loads in rivers. However, the vast majority of the federally owned dams were built mainly for flood control, municipal water supply, and irrigation water. These facilities are critically important for various reasons and not likely to be removed. These facilities should be utilized for the additional benefit of generating clean, reliable power. This goal will be accomplished by powering 100 non-powered federally owned dams. These 100 dams have been identified as the facilities that provide the greatest potential for power generation by the DOE. These facilities can increase capacity in the short-term by 12 gigawatts or the equivalent of adding 15% capacity to the U.S. hydropower output.