LOW POWER, BIG PROBLEMS

Hydopower Reform Coalition's paper on how Low-Power Hydropower Dams Hurt Rivers.

Written in response to a general misunderstanding by utilities, legislators and others that the "size" of a dam is an accurate indicator of its environmental footprint, LOW POWER, BIG PROBLEMS provides documentation on how ALL dams affect river systems, as well as a clear message that investing in new low power and generally inefficient dams does not offer a suitable solution to this nation's pressing energy needs and warming climate.

Whether it is in response to the environmental crisis of climate change or our overreliance on imported fuels, it is clear that America needs to act quickly to replace fossil fuel energy technologies with renewable energy. It is equally imperative, however, that we do not destroy the environment we are trying to save by blindly rushing to develop low-emissions energy sources that will result in serious environmental harm. We will not solve our energy problems by building new dams – especially inefficient low-power dams where the energy benefits fail to outweigh the environmental impacts – but we will cause irreparable harm to our rivers.