September 3, 2003—In response to the Northeast blackout in August, the National Hydropower Association (NHA) has called on Congress to adopt policies to ensure the viability of hydropower and to encourage upgrades to maximize the nation’s existing hydropower infrastructure.
Hydropower’s operational characteristics allow it to generate power almost immediately. Within six hours of the start of the blackout, the New York Power Authority’s hydropower generation was back online providing New York with 3,794 megawatts of energy, close to 45 percent of the state’s total electricity load.
Nationally, says the association, 19,626 megawatts of potential hydropower, if developed, would raise predicted capacity margins by 16 percent, surpassing levels that exist today.
