Hydroelectricity

San Antonio dam

The era of mega-dams in Brazil may be coming to an end

Environment

Big dams have been big business in Brazil for the last decade or so, but in the wake of scandals and protests, the Brazilian government recently called a halt to plans for more mega-dam construction.

Inga 1 dam

Congo pushes for a mega-dam project, with no environmental impact studies

Environment
Elwha River Dam 4

How ‘clean power’ dams actually damage the environment

Environment

China’s hydropower ambitions

Environment

Why Venezuela’s Wealth of Energy Resources Can’t Stop Blackouts

Global Politics
The World

China’s Three Gorges Dam

A project of vast proportions is underway as the Chinese government works to harness the water power of the Yangtse River in the Three Gorges region of China for electricity. With a plan to relocate more than one million people, the impact for this most ambitious project since the building of the Great Wall could […]

The World

Mini-Hydro Powers Public Radio

In an encore presentation of a piece we ran a year ago, Steve visits a new public radio station in New York’s Catskill Mountains that gets its electricity from the general manager’s new mini-hydroelectric plant.

The World

Running Radio on Water

WJFF, a public radio station in the Catskill Mountains of New York, runs its offices and studios on power from a small hydroelectric dam located under the general manager’s house. Steve visits the station.

Damming the Developing World

Interest in building big dams may be waning in the United States, but developing nations are increasingly turning to hydropower to support their growing economies  ? often with help from Chinese engineers.

Fossil Creek Dam Removal

An Arizona utility plans to shut down its small hydroelectric dam on Fossil Creek. It will be the first dam decommissioned in the southwest. Though the move is seen as largely symbolic, conservationists says it’s a sign of more to come.