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Hydroelectric Energy ☔
Miss Crossley
Miss Crossley
Main
First waterwheel
200 Bc
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The first water wheel was first used around 200 BC. For tasks like Grinding grain and irrigation
Not Much Happens
0 AD - 1850
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Not much happens with hydropower at this time.
First Hydroelectric Plant in Niagra Falls
1879
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First industrial use of hydropower
1880
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Our nation's first industrial use of hydropower to generate electricity occurred in 1880 brush-arc lamps were powered water turbine at the Wolverine Chair factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan
First Hydroelectric Street Lamps
1881
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the street lamps at Niagra Falls began using hydro electric power in 1881
First Hydroelectric Plant in Wisconsin
1882
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First hydroelectric plant in Wisconsin opened on September 30, 1882 on Fox River, in Appleton, Wisconsin
A Lot of Hydroelectric Plants
1886
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In 1886, between 40 and 50 hydroelectric plants were operating in the US and in Canada.
West Starts Using Hydropower
1887
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First hydro electric plant in the western part of the U.S. opened in 1887 in San Bernado, California
The Austin Dam is Completed
1893
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The Austin Dam, the first specifically designed for generating hydropower, was completed in 1893
An Act was Signed
1901
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The Rivers and First Federal Water Power Act required special permission for a hydroelectric plant to be built and operated on any stream/river large enough for boat traffic. This act was signed in 1901.
US is Using More Hydropower
1907
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In 1907 15% of the US was using hydropower for electricity
Caughdenoy Dam was Built
1909
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In 1909 the Caughdenoy Dam was built, in Oswego, New York. The generation potential is 2.5 mega-watts per year
The West Relies More on Hydropower
1940
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In 1940, 75% of the electricity in the Western states used hydropower as fuel.
Hydro Electric Dams are Blocking Fish
1960 - 1970
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Operators of hydro electric dams realize the dams are blocking fish migration.
John T. Myers Locks and Dam is Built
1975
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John T. Myers Locks & Dams is built in 1975, in Union, Kentucky. With a generation potential of 395.2 mega watts on Ohio River. It was built near the city of Cave in Rock.
Conventional Plant Capacity
1980
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Conventional hydropower plant capacity nearly tripled in the US since 1940.
US Ranking
2006
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The US ranked among the Top 4 countries in the world for hydroelectric generation, along with China, Canada, and Brazil. These countries generated 44% of the world's electricity from hydropower.
US Uses Hydropower
2011
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In 2011, hydropower created 6% of total US electricity and 63% of electricity generation from renewable resources
Hydropower Generation in US
2013
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Today the US is the 2nd largest producer of hydropower- Canada is the largest. There are 75,185 dams in the US, but less than 3% are used for generation.