Exploring Hydropower

Water Cycle
Gravitational Energy
Harnessing Water Power

The NEED Project 2014

Worlds First Hydropower Plant
Top Hydropower Producing States
2012 (thousand megawatt hours)

1. Washington 89,464
2. Oregon 39,410
3. California 26,837
4. New York 24,652
5. Montana 11,283

Other major hydropower producing states

include Idaho, Tennessee, Arizona, Alabama,
and South Dakota. They all produce over
5,000 Mwh annually.
 Hydroelectric Generation by Country
Billion kilowatt-hours

China

Canada

Brazil

United States

Russia

India 2011
Norway
2012
Venezuela
2013
Japan

France

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Data: EIA
U.S. Electricity Production 2013

Petroleum; 1%Solar; 0%Geothermal; 0% Other; 1%

Biomass; 1%Wind; 4%

Natural Gas; 27%

Nuclear; 19%

Hydroelectric ; 7%

Coal; 39%

Data provided by US EIA Net Generation by Energy Source

The NEED Project 2014
The NEED Project 2014
The NEED Project 2014
Advantages

Renewable Energy
Clean Energy
Source
Domestic Energy
Source
Generally Available
As Needed
Provides
Recreational
Opportunities
Water Supply and
Power Plant Efficiency
Coal vs. Hydro Kinetic Energy Conversion

35% 95%
Possible Environmental Impacts

Fish Population
Quality and Flow of Water
Ecosystems of Rivers and
Streams
Other Disadvantages

Drought
Impact on Local
Environment and Land Use
Preservation Concerns
For More Information

The NEED Project

www.need.org
info@need.org
1-800-875-5029

Energy Information Administration

U.S. Department of Energy
www.eia.gov

The NEED Project 2014

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All NEED schools have outstanding classroom-based programs in which students learn
about energy. Does your school have student leaders who extend these activities into
their communities? To recognize outstanding achievement and reward student
leadership, The NEED Project conducts the National Youth Awards Program for Energy
Achievement.

Whats involved?
Students and teachers set goals and objectives, and keep a record of their activities.
Students create a digital project to submit for judging. In April, digital projects should
be uploaded to the online submission site.

Want more info? Check out www.NEED.org/Youth-Awards for more application and
program information, previous winners, and photos of past events.