Environmental Impacts

Environmental Impacts on Hydro power Hydroelectric power plants have many environmental impacts, some of which are just beginning to be understood. These impacts, however, must be weighed against the environmental impacts of alternative sources of electricity. Until recently there was an almost universal belief that hydropower was a clean and environmentally safe method of producing electricity. Hydroelectric power plants do not emit any of the standard atmospheric pollutants such as carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide …

…amp;gt;The dams are very expensive to build. However, many dams are used for flood control or irrigation, so building costs can be shared. <Tab/>Building a large dam will flood a very large area upstream, causing problems for animals that used to live there. <Tab/>Finding a suitable site can be difficult - the impact on residents and the environment may be unacceptable.