History of Hydropower

Greeks were first to use hydropower in order to grind wheat into flour.

The Bureau of Reclamation gets involved in hydropower development to provide water resource management to the arid western areas of the United States.

Congress authorizes U.S .Army Corps to build hydroelectric plants.

The first large-scale pumped storage development in the U.S. built in New Milford, Connecticut.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is tasked with controlling flooding and opening up the Tennessee River for navigational purposes.

Federal Power Commission's authority is extended to all hydroelectric projects either built by publicly or privately-owned utilities engaged in interstate commerce.

One of the most famous hydroelectric projects in history, built on the border of Nevada and Arizona on top of the Colorado River.

Clean, affordable hydropower researched and promoted by the Hydropower research foundation established by the National Hydropower Association.

Existing hydropower facilities would get upgrades from the investment made by DOE which offered both communities and utilities an opportunity to make more cost effective and productive hydropower systems.