Hydropower could create waves of energy, jobs

Hydropower to create jobs

A national report said there is high potential for hydropower to generate energy and create jobs for the nation

The study (http://www.hydro.org/Jobs_Study09.php), done by Navigant Consulting and commissioned and released by the National Hydropower Association, said the U.S. hydropower industry could install between 23,000 MW and 60,000 MW of capacity by 2025. The country has about 100,000 MW of installed conventional hydropower capacity so far.

In Pennsylvania, hydropower generated more than 1.5 million MWh of electricity from June 2008 to July 2009. The state has invested $807,000 in Voith Hydro, a manufacturing facility that produces hydroelectric generators and turbines in hydropower dams. Pennsylvania has also enacted the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2004 which requires at least 18.5 percent of all energy generated comes from renewable sources by 2021.