Deciphering which energy source is the best is always a tall task. Every action has a reaction and it sometimes comes down to the point of choosing the lesser of two evils. Throughout this program, I have really come to the realization that everything has some sort of impact. Different, of course, but still there. This past week, we took a trip to the Burfell Dam. According to the USGS, hydroelectric energy is one of the most widely-used renewable energy sources.[1] It makes sense. Water is such a powerful entity, and with lower emission rates than other means, how wouldn’t it be good? In fact, many modern hydro turbines have the ability to convert as much as 90% of the available energy into electricity.[2] While visiting the Burfell Dam, we were able to meet with a couple workers and get a brief tour inside the new construction. This experience really stood out to me. I have grown up seeing dams in rivers, but never have I had the opportunity to see the construction that goes into one, let alone step inside of it. This project was no small task. I found myself struck at how large scale this dam project was, and how so many probably greatly outweigh it. Roughly 170 people were living in a mini set-up community to constantly work on the construction. I had never really comprehended how much goes into the construction of these dams. What might seem so minimal from the outsider’s perspective, is massive behind the scenes. While hydroelectric energy doesn’t harness the negative greenhouse gas and air pollutants that many other forms of energy contain, it does hold a strong impact on the natural environment that surrounds it. River flow is affected, fish populations suffer, and areas flood. A gigantic tunnel was dug into a mountain to hold all the components, and erosion control sheets were put into place along the waters’ edge to manage the damage being done. So much more goes on than what might meet the eye. Now I did not write this to convince anyone that hydroelectric energy is bad, because I don’t believe that to be true. However, one thing I am starting to realize is that just because something is labeled renewable, doesn’t mean there isn’t some negative impact happening somewhere. I have also started to ask the question why. Why is more energy needed? Where is this energy going? There is a large difference between creating another dam for residential prosperity compared to building it just to feed another aluminum plant. I think one of the most important take-aways from this trip is to look beyond the labels and ask the tough questions about the impacts and the benefits and reasoning behind all that is energy.
Kendra Allen
Sources:
[1] https://water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html
[2] http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/hydroelectric.html