Government Energy Policy, Business and Technology

U.S. hydroelectric generation to increase in 2020 despite drought conditions, EIA says

Renewable Energy World: Electricity generation from hydroelectric power plants in the U.S. will grow by 4% in 2020 from 2019 levels, to 280 billion kWh, despite current drought conditions and extensive wildfires in parts of the country, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO).

States in the Pacific Northwest, home to the Columbia River Basin, are the largest hydroelectric power producers in the U.S. Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington generated 47% of all U.S. hydroelectric power in the first half of 2020. As such, drought conditions in these states can have noticeable impacts on overall U.S. hydroelectric generation, especially if the drought is severe or long-lasting.

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