BREAKING: Recent Report Shows hydropower Reservoirs in Alabama Emit *Substantial* Amounts of Methane
The Alabama Rivers Alliance (ARA), in partnership with PhD students from the Virginia Scientist-Community Interface (V-SCI), has used the G-res modeling tool to analyze the net methane and carbon dioxide emissions of two of Alabama Power’s hydropower facilities, and the results show that these supposedly “clean” and emissions-free hydropower dams and reservoirs actually create and emit significant quantities of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Methane Emission is Hydropower’s Dirty Secret
As climate change fuels increasingly severe floods and droughts, the value of clean, healthy rivers becomes even more essential. And as we prioritize and increase investment in low- or no-carbon energy sources, it’s vital that we have all the information about costs and benefits of alternatives to fossil fuels. While hydropower dams will continue to play a role in our nation’s energy portfolio, it is important to acknowledge that both reservoirs and hydropower generation contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
The Hydropower Myth, Part II; Is Hydropower as ‘Green’ as Promised?
Enormous releases of greenhouse gas emissions, species decline and extinction, and habitat fragmentation. While you’d be right if you assumed these were characteristics of fossil-fuel plants that have had devastating impacts on our planet, you might be surprised that...