Hydropower in the Northwest

The Columbia River and its tributaries have given the Northwest some of the nation’s cheapest and cleanest electric power!

Hydropower is renewable. Each year, rain and snow replenish the supply. It is the nation’s most abundant source of renewable energy.

Hydropower is clean. Hydropower produces no emissions. There are no gases or waste products that cause air pollution.

Hydropower is affordable. This is because the “fuel” - water - is free. That keeps production costs low and protects against fluctuations in fuel prices. Over the years, Pacific Northwest dams have consistently provided some of the nation’s most affordable electricity.

Hydropower is flexible. By adjusting how much water flows through the dams, hydropower can be increased or decreased very quickly to meet changes in power demand. This meets a fundamental requirement of all electric grids, which is that demand must exactly match supply at all times to keep the system stable.

Hydropower allows for the growth of other renewable resources. Hydropower is a great “back-up” for wind and solar power. It can be ramped up to meet demand when the wind is not blowing, and dialed down at times of high winds.

Hydropower is efficient. Generators at dams convert about 90 percent of the energy in falling water into electrical energy. By comparison, fossil-fueled plants lose more than half of the energy content of their fuel as waste heat and gases.

Hydropower is secure. Water from our rivers is largely a domestic resource not subject to disruptions from foreign suppliers, cost fluctuations in power markets, international political crises or transportation outages.

To learn more about Hydropower in the Northwest, check out the websites linked here.

www.bpa.gov/hydroflowshere

BPA: Hydropower - How the Federal Columbia River Power system works for you

Department of Energy: Benefits of Hydropower

Department of Energy: How Hydropower Works

National Hydropower Association: Hydropower is renewable and climate friendly