Did You Know...

. . . that the use of hydropower in the United States resulted in the avoidance of 30 million metric tons of carbon emissions in 2002? That is equivalent to removing approximately 40 percent of the nation's vehicles from U.S. roadways, which are the largest emitters of carbon. The use of hydropower also results in avoided emissions such as nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury, lead and other fine particulate matter known to cause health problems.

The Department of Energy in 1999 identified 21,000 megawatts of unused hydropower potential at existing dams in the U.S. If developed, this potential would meet the yearly energy needs of 6.9 million homes and result in an additional 42 million metric tons of avoided carbon emissions.

Source: National Hydropower Association.

(reprinted from the USSD Newsletter, July 2004, page 3)