5 ms·
Will hydro be viable if the rainfall gets worse? Lake Mead is about 40% capacity, I can't imagine other dams are doing much better.
by twright 8y ago
Will hydro be viable if the rainfall gets worse? Lake Mead is about 40% capacity, I can't imagine other dams are doing much better.
- toomuchtodo 8y agoThere is a proposal to convert the Hoover Damn and Lake Mead into pumped storage. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/los-angeles-considers-3b-pumped-storage-project-at-hoover-dam/528699/ https://www.utilitydive.com/news/los-angeles-considers-3b-pu... https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/07/24/business/energy-environment/hoover-dam-renewable-energy.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/07/24/business/ener...
- seanmcdirmid 8y agoI thought they were already used as pumped storage? I know the grand coullee has the ability to pump water up into its reaovoir, at least they talked about this in a high school class I took 25 years ago.
- ocschwar 8y agoTHey can build transmission lines into WA and OR and get hydrop from there.
- craftyguy 8y agoAssuming those states want to sell power to CA. I suppose they would if CA is willing to pay for it.
- oasisbob 8y agoA ton of pacific northwest hydropower is already flowing into California through the BPA's intertie system: https://www.bpa.gov/news/pubs/FactSheets/fs-20170726-BPA-sets-wholesale-rates-for-fiscal-years-2018-2019.pdf https://www.bpa.gov/news/pubs/FactSheets/fs-20170726-BPA-set...