The potential for small scale hydropower development in the US

Energy Policy Volume 38, Issue 10, October 2010, Pages 5512–5519 The socio-economic transition towards a hydrogen economy - findings from European research, with regular papers Cover image The potential for small scale hydropower development in the US Lea KosnikCorresponding author contact information, E-mail the corresponding author Department of Economics, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 8001 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121-4499, USA Choose an option to locate/access this article: Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Check access Purchase $19.95 Abstract In an earlier paper (Kosnik, 2008), the potential for small scale hydropower to contribute to US renewable energy supplies, as well as reduce current carbon emissions, was investigated. It was discovered that thousands of viable sites capable of producing significant amounts of hydroelectric power were available throughout the United States. The primary objective of this paper is to determine the cost-effectiveness of developing these small scale hydropower sites. Just because a site has the necessary topographical features to allow small scale hydropower development, does not mean that it should be pursued from a cost-benefit perspective, even if it is a renewable energy resource with minimal effects on the environment. This analysis finds that while the average cost of developing small scale hydropower is relatively high, there still remain hundreds of sites on the low end of the cost scale that are cost-effective to develop right now.