Hydro electric plants

chris · Coal Joined: Jul 22, 2004 Posts: 2 Location: NH usa

Does anyone want to build one. As an investment the return isn't good right now; but if energy prices go up, as many think, the return will be there.

PhilBiker · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 1326

long term ROE on hydro is fantastic, utilities and public love 'em.

However, they do have some problems:

1) Major environmental inmact
2) What about the NIMBYs who live where the "lake" is supposed to go?
3) Requires specific topology - you can't just put a dam anywhere, you need just the right kind of natural basin behind it.

Mostly due to #3 above, most of the prospective dam locations in the USA, and actually, the world, have been developed already.