What are the disadvantages of hydroelectricity?
One disadvantage to hydroelectric power is that it necessitates the building of dams. While the reservoirs dams create can provide numerous recreational opportunities (like boating, water skiing, and fishing), their creation floods out large areas of land, eliminating wildlife habitats. Additionally, while operating costs for hydroelectric plants are relatively low, the initial building costs are very high. Building large dams is both costly and difficult, making new hydroelectric plants an unattractive option for electric companies. Also, most suitable sites for hydroelectric generation have already been developed. In fact, the Catawba River, located in Duke Energys service area in the Carolinas, is one of the most electrified rivers in the world.
