By Kris Polly The hydropower industry is often plagued by the misperception that the term fish-friendly dam is an oxymoron. In fact, hydro operators work tirelessly to ensure that their facilities are safe for fish and that…

By Kris Polly Pumped storage is an efficient, established, long-duration energy storage method that will become an increasingly crucial part of the grid in coming years as more and more variable renewable generation comes online. This issue’s…

By Kris Polly Everyone knows that drought means less water, but it may not be as immediately obvious that it can also mean less power. In the Colorado basin, however, that is becoming more and more apparent.…

By Kris Polly As owners and operators of hydropower facilities well know, compliance with the regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other federal and state agencies is a major and crucial task. Building a…

By Kris Polly The Colville Indian Reservation, located in central Washington State, is home to two of the nation’s largest hydroelectric stations, Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph Dams, and is just upriver of Wells Dam. The Confederated…

By Kris Polly For our cover story, we have the honor of interviewing Representative Annie Kuster of New Hampshire. Representative Kuster was the cosponsor in the House of Representatives of the Twenty-First Century Dams Act, which would…

By Kris Polly Progress in hydropower is pushed forward by private companies; federal, state, and provincial entities; and even local agencies. All those levels are on view in this month’s Hydro Leader.  The U.S. Department of Energy’s…

By Kris Polly As we move further into the 21st century, it is becoming clearer and clearer that hydropower will play a central role in the transition to a more renewable, carbon-free grid. And that means that…

By Kris Polly Hydropower facilities use technology to serve society. These specialized facilities—with their myriad specialized subcomponents—not only provide power for immediate use, they also provide community-shaping recreation opportunities and allow for long-term planning. To enable their…

By Kris Polly One stereotype about hydropower holds that it deals with nothing more than massive, river-spanning dams with detrimental environmental effects. While large dams are certainly important (e.g., they protect downstream populations from floods), hydropower in…