http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Earth_Clean-Energy_Hydroelectric_18_151_1325.html Press Review of the Earth from the most relevant websites. Keep in touch with the Earth and your future ! fr-FR http://www.earth-stream.com/logo-stream-Earth.png http://www.earth-stream.com Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:29:52 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/10-of-U-S-Domestic-Energy-Now-Renewable_18_151_1325_132245.html That's right, ten percent of the energy produced in America is now renewable! It's certainly good news, but not actually as good as it might seem. We're only talking about American energy here...so while that counts almost all of the coal, it doesn't include a pretty huge chunk of the oil. But it does point out that renewable energy is already a substantial portion of American's energy production picture. The biggest piece of that 10% is now biomass and biofuels, followed by hydroelectric (a chunk of the renewable energy pie that has not and will not grow any further.) Wind is a different story however. While it's still a tiny piece of domestic production (still less than a percent) it's growing faster than any other energy source, 50% up over last year in the first half of this year alone. Solar and geothermal finish up the renewable source list with a truly tiny piece of the pie...but both offer even more opportunity for growth than wind power. Renewables are simply best way to get energy domestically, and now with 10% of our energy (and rising) coming from these sources, the sun is looking that much brighter. Full Press Release from the SUN DAY Campaign Below   Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:18:40 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Split-Over-Lake-Matiri-Hydro-Plan_18_151_1325_132115.html By KIDSON, Sally A Motueka-based company's application to build a hydroelectric scheme on Lake Matiri near Murchison has attracted 255 submissions, most of which support the scheme, although kayakers and environmentalists remain critical of the proposal. Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:44:33 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Guatemala-New-Hub-for-Piloting-Green-Energy-Technologies-_18_151_1325_129084.html Photo credit: AIDG We were interested to read that Guatemala is the test site for three of the 10 Everyday Technologies That Can Change the World in the online edition of DISCOVER magazine. The three technologies being piloted in Guatemala are: 1) A micro-hydroelectric power generator 2) A turbine-less generator that captures energy from aeroelastic flutter Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:13:02 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/United-Kingdom-Staffing-crisis-will-hit-green-energy-targets-_18_151_1325_126491.html Scotsman: SCOTLAND's renewables sector is facing a severe staffing crisis which will throw Government targets on green energy into disarray, industry experts are warning. Renewable energy companies have raised the alarm over a chronic shortage of engineers and other staff with enough training to man Scotland's growing army of wind farms, hydroelectric power stations and biomass plants. Industry experts say up to 40% of jobs at some renewables firms are currently unfilled and Scotland will not ... Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:34:39 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Community-power-plays-backed_18_151_1325_126477.html Three Green Valleys project to provide hydroelectric and solar power on disused sites Sat, 13 Sep 2008 01:45:51 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/New-hydroelectric-scheme-A-good-invesment-for-the-future-_18_151_1325_126241.html A small-scale hydroelectric scheme promises green power and offers investors a 7.5% annual return in what could be a model for the rest of the UK. Miles Brignall reports Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:13:55 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Piezoelectric-Hydropower-System-May-Power-20-40-of-Pennsylvania-Town_18_151_1325_121321.html photo: Casey West Hydroelectric power generally conjures up images of massive dams creating reservoirs behind them, submerging trees and sometimes even towns. While technically a form of renewable energy (and generally included by most countries when they tout how much of their electricity is generated from renewable sources), large scale hydro isn’t exactly environmentally friendly. A better (if not perfect) hydro option is ... Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:25:17 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/United-States-Dropping-lake-levels-pose-problems-for-power-companies_18_151_1325_121280.html WWMT: New information shows declining water levels in the Great Lakes could pose a huge problem for power companies. Scientists expect the lakes to drop significantly over the next century because of climate change. New York officials are worried. They depend on that water for electricity. Hydroelectric facilities generate about 12 percent of the electricity in the state. Lower lake levels mean lower power levels. New York is already looking at alternative power ... Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:13:59 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Carbon-market-may-fund-dam-in-Panama-that-threatens-natural-reserve_18_151_1325_121106.html Mongbay: The UN's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) -- a scheme that provides funds to projects that reduce emissions in developing nations -- may be used to finance a hydroelectric dam in Panama which, according to environmentalists, threatens a biologically rich World Heritage site and an indigenous tribe, the Ngobe. AES Corporation, a Virginia-based company, is overseeing the dam's construction in the Palo Seco Protected Forest on the Rio Changuinola. The river flows out from La Amistad ... Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:13:20 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Lake-Pukaki-at-18-and-Dropping-HYDRO-LAKES-CRISIS_18_151_1325_119817.html By GORMAN, Paul Drastic action may be taken to boost flagging South Island hydro- electric generation and keep power flowing, despite lakes continuing to empty. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:45:22 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/$21M-Power-Plant-Now-Supplying-Heber_18_151_1325_119655.html By Jasen Lee Deseret News Residents of the Heber Valley have a fresh source of power in the Jordanelle Dam Hydroelectric Power plant, which was formally opened in a dedication ceremony Wednesday. The $21.5 million facility began generating power on July 1. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:29:51 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Penobscot-Agreement-is-Breakthrough_18_151_1325_119367.html A landmark agreement between the Penobscot River Restoration Trust and PPL Energy Corp. to sell, remove and bypass three hydroelectric dams is a blueprint for efforts for improving river habitats. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:58:31 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Queen-Greens-Balmoral-Castle_18_151_1325_119319.html The Queen of England has made her Scottish estate, Balmoral, energy-independent by installing a small hydroelectric plant.  The plant, near a stream on her estate, not only fuels her estate, but 1,000 area homes through net-metering.  Balmoral is no stranger to renewables.  The Queen had a water turbine as early as the 1920’s to provide electric lights to her castle, and in the 50’s, to a sawmill. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:20:10 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Dam-The-Red-Sea-And-Release-Gigawatts_18_151_1325_119049.html Damming the Red Sea could solve the growing energy demands of millions of people in the Middle East and alleviate some of the region's tensions pertaining to oil supplies through hydroelectric power. Equally, such a massive engineering project may cause untold ecological harm and displace countless people from their homes. Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:34:46 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Submerged-Forests-to-be-Harvested-in-Ghana-Touted-As-Way-to-Slow-Tropical-Deforestation_18_151_1325_118023.html Of all the ways proposed to monitor, slow or stop deforestation around the world this may be a first: Reuters is reporting that Ghana is looking to harvest 14 million cubic meters (494.4 million cubic feet) of timber that was submerged 40 years ago when Lake Volta was formed behind the Akosombo hydroelectric dam. $4 Billion in Timber Under the Water Ghana’s head of Climate Change in the nation’s Forestry Commission, Robert Bamfo, said that logging of rot-resistant hardwoods such as ebony, wawa, and odum will begin in October and will reduce... Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:15:33 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Costa-Rica-Sets-Goal-of-Carbon-Neutrality-by-2021_18_151_1325_117465.html In February 2008, four countries made a public commitment to going carbon neutral; New Zealand, Norway, Iceland and Costa Rica. Of those, Costa Rica set the most ambitious target - carbon neutrality by 2021. Reaching such a goal by that date will make it the first country in the world to achieve carbon neutrality. Not bad for the only developing country on the list. Costa Rica is already ahead of the game on renewable energy sources, producing 80% of its electricity using hydroelectric dams, 5.3% from geothermal sources and 1.3% from wind power. "If any country can do it ... Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:02:32 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Queen-Elizabeth-Makes-Balmoral-Home-All-Green_18_151_1325_117125.html Balmoral is the Queen's Scottish summer retreat and her favourite place to go for R and R. Now HRH has taken steps to make her cottage completely self-sufficient, energy wise. She has installed a small hydro-electric plant developed on a rushing stream in the estate forest. It generates enough to supply electricity to the 1,000 residents in the area with the excess sold to the national grid. The Queen has registered all the woodlands with the Forestry Stewardship Council which supports sustainable forestry worldwide. All farming practices are registered with the Soil Association, which promotes organic food and farming. Taking a page fro... Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:29:11 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Controversial-Hydropower-Project-in-Chile-Enters-Environmental-Analysis-Phase_18_151_1325_115256.html (Picture: The Chilean Aysen region, where a company seeks to install five new hydroelectric power stations. Source: HidroAysen.) In the midst of protests by environmental groups but also in front of an energy crisis that demands new power sources for the country, Chile's biggest energy generation project took another step last week. The authorities of HidroAysen presented the environmental impact study for the five hydropower stations they plan to build in 2009, which would provide an additional annual generation of 18,430 GWH. According to Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:48:43 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/Canada-s-Bay-of-Fundy-Beautiful-and-Renewable-Power_18_151_1325_114719.html Majestic and serene, Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy is one of Canada’s natural marvels. Every tidal cycle, about 100 billion tonnes of seawater flows in and out of the Bay. With some of the highest tides in the world (it has a rivalry with the Leaf Basin in Ungava Bay), there are multiple opportunities to generate electricity from this natural wonder. These high tides provide an opportunity to generate power from the tidal energy in a similar manner to modern hydroelectric dams. And just like with hydroelectric dams, the question arises: is this energy really renewable and green? Read more of this story » Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:09:20 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydroelectric/1000-Megawatts-of-Run-of-River-Hydro-on-Tap-for-British-Columbia_18_151_1325_114680.html photo by Alistair Howard When most people think of hydro-electric power they probably think of large dam projects such as China’s Three Gorges Dam, India’s dams on the Narmada River , or closer to home (at least to my home) the Hoover Dam. Perhaps needless to say, big hydro-electric projects like this can generate a great deal of power, but there are significant environmental trade offs. A Le...