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…

By Kris Polly Hydropower is multidisciplinary by nature: It involves civil and electrical engineering, turbine design, and hydrology, but it also touches many fields of law, including environmental and endangered species law, historical preservation regulations, natural resources…

By Kris Polly Through technological innovations, regulatory revisions, and constant advances in management, the U.S. hydropower industry is preparing to power the future. In this month’s Hydro Leader, we speak with representatives of numerous federal agencies, local…

In this month's Hydro Leader, Malcolm Woolf, the president and CEO of the National Hydropower Association, the national trade association for the hydropower association, tells us about new developments in the water power world. Hydropower plays an…

Maintaining hydroelectric facilities in good working order is critical for several reasons. Hydroelectric facilities are major power producers for our nation and will only become more important as renewable energy standards become more stringent. Moreover, hydroelectric facilities…

Hydropower holds great promise as an energy source for the future. Not only is it renewable and carbon neutral, it also helps stabilize electricity grids and enables the integration of other renewable sources, including solar and wind…

The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the Southwest, providing irrigation and drinking water to millions of people and driving mighty hydroelectric installations that provide power to major cities and communities. Many entities are involved in the…