Hydropower Reform Coalition : Hydropower Reform Coalition Hydropower Reform Coalition – Western Caucus Meeting
Oakland, CA
March 10/11, 2008
Richard J. Bowers
Hydropower Reform Coalition : Hydropower Reform Coalition Advocates for river protection and restoration at individual, privately-owned hydropower dams regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
More than 140 local, regional and national outdoor recreation and conservation organizations that have effectively reduced the footprint of hydropower dams on rivers.
HRC Steering Committee : HRC Steering Committee Alabama Rivers AllianceWater Is Life
Presentation Overview : Presentation Overview Perspectives on hydropower and watersheds
Hydropower as clean and renewable energy source
Economics of hydropower in a changing environment
New technologies
Hydropower in a warmer world
Perspectives on Hydropower : Perspectives on Hydropower The view from a river advocacy position
More than one million fishermen, paddlers, birding enthusiasts, and environmental interests who are concerned with, and inspired by, rivers
What is clean energy? : What is clean energy? Clean energy is any energy that causes little or no harm to the environment. Wind energy, solar energy (in all its forms--photovoltaic, geothermal, solar thermal, etc.), hydrogen and fuel cells, wave and tidal energy, and biomass are all examples of clean energy.
What we’ve learned from history is that no known energy source is 100% clean
Conventional Hydropower asRenewable Energy : Conventional Hydropower asRenewable Energy Water is renewable, abundant, reliable, affordable, & sustainable
Low carbon-emissions
Potential of new technologies
Grid support for wind, solar, other
Hydropower Impacts on Rivers & Watersheds : Hydropower Impacts on Rivers & Watersheds Proven impacts on the function and resiliency of natural systems
Fragmenting free-flowing freshwater systems
Blocking the flow of nutrients and sediments
Blocking fish movement
Destroying stream-side habitat
Slowing and overheating the river upstream of the dam
Reducing flows downstream
Destruction of native fish populations
Altering and reducing flows in formerly wild rivers.
Economics of Dams : Economics of Dams Most of the sites that are environmentally and economically acceptable have been developed
In a green economy, economic value must include the value and function that natural environments provide free of charge.
As a mature technology, hydropower does not provide new and innovative solutions, new investment and science, or job creation
Expected changes in the future will affect the value of hydropower
Small Hydro Projects : Small Hydro Projects When you remove the few remaining sites for new dams that make environmental and economic sense, you are left almost exclusively with small scale hydro. Small hydro has all of the impacts of a large dam on a river or watershed, with little of the economic or power production values.
Small hydro = Small gain for huge costs!
What we support : What we support Water conservation
Keeping water in river
Keeping water clean and healthy
Protecting species
Appropriately sited, operated and mitigated hydropower
Hydropower that is supportive of natural systems
Increased efficiency at existing dams
Opportunities to increase hydropower at non-power dams
Over 500 Small Hydro Projects Proposed in British Columbia : Over 500 Small Hydro Projects Proposed in British Columbia
Hydrokinetics : Hydrokinetics Innovative hydropower projects that use the forces of currents, waves, and tides to generate clean, renewable electric energy.
Estimates are that the new hydrokinetic technologies, if fully developed, could double the amount of hydropower production in the United States, bringing it from just under 10% to close to 20% of the national supply.
Hydrokinetic Questions : Hydrokinetic Questions Unknowns regarding the potential environmental effects of implementing new technologies in a new operating environment.
Given that the commission is proposing a process in which license applications would be reviewed, coordinated, and completed in the space of six months, there is a great risk of rushing into decisions that could result in significant unintended environmental impacts.
Potential impacts on commercial fishing, recreation and marine protection areas.
Cumulative Impacts
FERC Process for Licensing Hydrokinetic Projects : FERC Process for Licensing Hydrokinetic Projects
Recommendations to Reduce Impacts from a New Technology : Recommendations to Reduce Impacts from a New Technology Identify appropriately sited renewable energy facilities
Recognize and protect sensitive species
Distinguish and avoid potential impacts to recreation and commercial interests
Address cumulative impacts Complete state, regional and national planning
Guarantee effective and coordinated public and agency involvement
Include a requirement for project decommissioning and removal in cases where operation or installation results in significant adverse impacts
Climate Change : Climate Change Healthy Rivers are resilient – they are more likely to cope successfully with climate disruption.
Hydropower and healthy river ecosystems both depend on flowing water. It is now beyond dispute that climate change disruption will have physical effects on water availability which result in important changes to the timing, quantity and quality of river flows.
For hydropower production, some of the effects and policy responses to climate disruption shift the quantity of power produced, others affect the value.
Hydropower in a Warmer World : Hydropower in a Warmer World Reduced or increased quantity of power due to river flow
Shifts in seasonal generation
Flood control & spills
Conflicts with other water users
Snowpack Reduction
Increased extreme precipitation events
Increased evaporation and transpiration
Reduced Predictability
Changed water quality
Parallel ImpactsHydropower & Climate Change : Parallel ImpactsHydropower & Climate Change Both destroy resiliency by disturbing habitats and altering the hydrological & fluvial regimes within a watershed
Both change the timing & volume of flows
Both increase water temperature
Both decrease water quality & quantity
Both reduce fish migration
Both cause species extinction
Hydropower Economics & Potential in a Warmer World : Hydropower Economics & Potential in a Warmer World Limited availability of environmentally and economically acceptable sites
No investment in new technologies or job creation
Needed investment to offset history of natural systems impact
offsetting damage to natural systems
Time needed to site, apply, approve and mitigate new dam construction
Recommendations for Hydropower in a Warmer World : Recommendations for Hydropower in a Warmer World Water conservation and efficiency
Operate and equip existing hydropower to protect rivers
New Hydropower – Not new dams
Encourage non-conventional hydropower with care
Coordinate multiple projects on a river
Decommission and remove hydropower dams where the benefits are compelling
HRC Pacific Northwest Members : HRC Pacific Northwest Members Advocates for the West (ID)
Alaskan Center for the Environment (AK)
Alaskan Fly fishers (AK)
Alder Creek Canoe & Kayak (OR)
American Rivers
American Whitewater
Bear River Watershed Council (ID)
Cascadia Wildlands Project (OR)
Center for Justice (WA)
Columbia Riverkeeper (WA)
Conservation Northwest (WA)
Federation of Fly Fishers (MT)
Fish for Cooper Creek Coalition (AK)
Friends of Living Oregon Waters (OR)
Gifford Pinchot Task Force (OR)
Greater Yellowstone Coalition (MT)
Hells Canyon Preservation Council (OR)
Idaho Rivers United (ID) Idaho Whitewater Association (ID)
Montana River Action Network (MT)
North Umpqua Foundation (OR)
NW Resources Information Center (ID)
Oregon Trout (OR)
Oregon Wild (OR)
Selkirk Conservation Alliance (ID)
Steelhead Trout Club of Washington (WA)
The Lands Council (WA)
The Mountaineers (WA)
The Steamboaters (OR)
Trout Unlimited
Umpqua Valley Audubon Society (OR)
Umpqua Watersheds (OR)
Utah Rivers Council (UT)
Washington Kayak Club (WA)
Water Watch of Oregon (OR)
www.hydroreform.org : www.hydroreform.org