How much pollution does hydro energy produce compared to other sources of electricity?
Like wind and solar, hydro energy produces zero emissions. Coal, on average, releases one ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) per megawatt hour of energy produced, as well as significant amounts of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, mercury, and other toxic elements like arsenic. Natural gas generates slightly more than half the CO2 emissions of coal.
