What are the advantages of using hydroelectric power?
One advantage of using water to generate electricity is the methods low cost. Hydroelectricity is cheaper than electricity produced in coal-fired and nuclear power plants. This is because the fuel (i.e., water from rivers or lakes) is free. Water, unlike coal and uranium, is also a renewable resource. And, since a fuel does not need to be burned, producing electricity from hydropower does not produce emissions. Another advantage of hydropower is that the potential energy in water can be stored until it is needed to produce electricity. Then, it can be quickly converted to kinetic energy by opening the penstock and allowing the water to flow into the turbines. The turbines spin and the generators produce electricity in minutes. Quick start-up times make hydroelectric plants ideally suited to provide peaking power. Hydroelectric plants can provide electricity in seconds at times when customers need it most. In addition to ensuring a reliable supply of hydroelectricity for our customers,
