Literature and sources Review
Below is the Literature Review I wrote in February. At the time, my project was more scattered and I didn't have a clear vision of where I wanted to go. After my March Experience, my question and what I wanted to focus on became clear. Many of the sources I talk about in the this review I did not end heavily rely upon; however, they helped set a foundation.
We are living in a time of great change, climate change being one of the greatest. While we cannot redesign the past, we have the ability to pave a new future. Huge steps have been made in the positive direction, As a society we need to begin prioritizing what natural resources we want to preserve, exploit, or effectively use. The essential question I am trying to answer is despite the possible changes to the local ecology, is hydropower one of the best renewable energy resources for the future? Hydropower is one of the most controversial renewable energy resources. My research thus far has pointed towards a very site specific answer. Each hydro project is different because of the size and river variations, while people also argue that hydro is the best alternative energy resource for developing countries with access to water because it is reliable and provides economic benefits.
Compared to solar, wind and geothermal installations, hydropower is known to cause the most damage to the local habitat, while it is also the most established and reliable energy resource (Galbraith). The visual and ecological impacts have caused hydro to be pinned as neither a clean or green energy resource by certain environmentalists. The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes that the construction of a dam, “can significantly affect natural river systems as well as fish and wildlife populations.” The EPA continues to describe that damming a river for hydro alters the oxygen levels of the river which can kill fish, and most of all it greatly disrupts the natural flow of the river. Hydropower supporters recognize that building a dam will initially change the local ecology to some extent, but they believe that the long-term benefits outweigh the preliminary impacts. The City of Aspen has published a study regarding why hydro is the best renewable energy resource, stating the main benefits are that it is, “ efficient, secure, reliable and proven.” When establishing a hydro project, there are countless environmental tests that must be passed and as the Castle Creek Energy Center points out, “The City of Aspen and the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a comprehensive stream monitoring and adaptive management regime that will protect the fisheries and stream habitat on Castle and Maroon Creeks when the Castle Creek plant comes online.” As with any type of change to the wilderness, there will be benefits and challenges. The question surrounding whether hydro is truly green has many complicated layers and is depends on one’s perspective of what “green” means.
The environmental movement is a split movement. It is has not met its full potential and strength because under the umbrella of “environmentalism”, there are countless disputes and challenges regarding how to effectively move forward. One of the greatest challenges is deciding what resources to preserve and which ones to use as alternative energy. The article, Ecological Sustainability as a Conservation Concept, believes the best way to go about conservation is ecologically sustainable ways of humanly inhabiting land and economically exploiting ecosystems in a sustainable and healthy fashion. Connie Harvey, a long-term environmentalist who has voiced opposition towards building a hydro project in the city of Aspen said in a video made by Forces of Nature, “Its too bad some things just can't be sacred and left alone.” (Forces of Nature) The environmentalist community is divided because of different values and perceptions of sustainability.
People often turn to, or against, the government when searching for change. Although talked about, protecting the environment is not a top priority for many governments. The Green Parties in Europe have found relative success. They hold many legislative positions and as a result of their initial popularity in the 1970s and 80s, many other political parties adopted environmental policies (Jacobs). The U.S government does not easily encourage or aid alternative energy research, in fact there are many strict regulations that hinder the development of hydropower projects. There are politicians who are helping the cause and putting alternative energy at the forefront of their agendas. Scott Tipton, Colorado Congressman, passed a bill in 2012 that promotes building more hydropower projects in Colorado, reasoning it will boost the economy too. Tipton has a high opinion of hydro, “Hydropower is the cheapest and cleanest source of electricity.” (Hooper) The government lacks a sense of urgency in supporting renewable energy, and as Porter Fox says in his New York Times article, “Nothing besides a national policy shift on how we create and consume energy will keep our mountains white in the winter — and slow global warming to a safe level.”
Developing countries have the opportunity to design their energy and environmental policies in a sustainable way. The World Bank sees this potential and supports many micro-hydro projects all over the world. The establishment of a micro hydro system in Nepal has been a great success, “Electricity has brought about a major change in the villages reached by this micro-hydro. In addition to 22 industries powered through this plant, the town of Darbang boasts a higher standard of living for its residents.” Micro-hydro projects face the same governmental challenges and possible ecological impacts, however a small river can boost a small village’s economy and raise the standard of living.
There will never be a solution to climate change, however many steps can be made in the right direction. The research I have done thus far reflects how complicated “simple” solutions, such as hydro, can be and how for any real progress to be made there needs to compromise and priorities set on both sides of the argument.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ecological Sustainability as a Conservation Concept. J Baird Callicott and Karen Mumford, Conservation Biology, Vol 11, No. 1 (Feb, 1997), pp. 32-40. Published by: Wiley for Society for Conservation Biology. Article Stable URL http://www.jstor.org/stable/2387273
"Castle Creek Energy Center." City of Aspen and Pitkin County, Colorado. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Living-in-the-Valley/Green-Initiatives/Renewable-Energy/Hydroelectric/Castle-Creek-Energy-Center/>.
United States of America. Environmental Protection Agency. Climate Change. EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. <http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/hydro.html>.
Ferry, Tim. "Myanmar's Struggle to Fix Its Failing Energy System and Embrace Renewables." Renewable Energy World. N.p., 02 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2014/01/myanmars-struggle-to-fix-its-failing-energy-system-embrace-renewables>.
Fox, Porter. "The End of Snow?" The New York Times 09 Feb. 2014: n. pag. The New York Times. 09 Feb. 2014. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/opinion/sunday/the-end-of-snow.html?_r=2>.
Galbraith, Kate. "Hydropower’s Resurgence and the Controversy Around It." The New York Times. N.p., 15 May 2011. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. <Hydropower’s Resurgence and the Controversy Around It>.
Hooper, Troy. "Controversial Hydropower Bill Passes House | The Colorado Independent." The Colorado Independent. N.p., 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://www.coloradoindependent.com/114961/controversial-hydropower-bill-passes-house>.
Jacobs, Michael. "Green Blues in Europe." JSTOR. N.p., 15 July 1989. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/4395075>.
"Renewable Energy Powers Rural Nepal Into the Future." The World Bank. The World Bank Group, 05 Feb. 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. <http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2014/02/05/renewable-energy-powers-rural-nepal-into-the-future>.
Resource Renewal Institute. “Protecting the Sacred.” Online video clip. Forces of Nature. Forces of Nature, 12 Nov. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
We are living in a time of great change, climate change being one of the greatest. While we cannot redesign the past, we have the ability to pave a new future. Huge steps have been made in the positive direction, As a society we need to begin prioritizing what natural resources we want to preserve, exploit, or effectively use. The essential question I am trying to answer is despite the possible changes to the local ecology, is hydropower one of the best renewable energy resources for the future? Hydropower is one of the most controversial renewable energy resources. My research thus far has pointed towards a very site specific answer. Each hydro project is different because of the size and river variations, while people also argue that hydro is the best alternative energy resource for developing countries with access to water because it is reliable and provides economic benefits.
Compared to solar, wind and geothermal installations, hydropower is known to cause the most damage to the local habitat, while it is also the most established and reliable energy resource (Galbraith). The visual and ecological impacts have caused hydro to be pinned as neither a clean or green energy resource by certain environmentalists. The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes that the construction of a dam, “can significantly affect natural river systems as well as fish and wildlife populations.” The EPA continues to describe that damming a river for hydro alters the oxygen levels of the river which can kill fish, and most of all it greatly disrupts the natural flow of the river. Hydropower supporters recognize that building a dam will initially change the local ecology to some extent, but they believe that the long-term benefits outweigh the preliminary impacts. The City of Aspen has published a study regarding why hydro is the best renewable energy resource, stating the main benefits are that it is, “ efficient, secure, reliable and proven.” When establishing a hydro project, there are countless environmental tests that must be passed and as the Castle Creek Energy Center points out, “The City of Aspen and the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a comprehensive stream monitoring and adaptive management regime that will protect the fisheries and stream habitat on Castle and Maroon Creeks when the Castle Creek plant comes online.” As with any type of change to the wilderness, there will be benefits and challenges. The question surrounding whether hydro is truly green has many complicated layers and is depends on one’s perspective of what “green” means.
The environmental movement is a split movement. It is has not met its full potential and strength because under the umbrella of “environmentalism”, there are countless disputes and challenges regarding how to effectively move forward. One of the greatest challenges is deciding what resources to preserve and which ones to use as alternative energy. The article, Ecological Sustainability as a Conservation Concept, believes the best way to go about conservation is ecologically sustainable ways of humanly inhabiting land and economically exploiting ecosystems in a sustainable and healthy fashion. Connie Harvey, a long-term environmentalist who has voiced opposition towards building a hydro project in the city of Aspen said in a video made by Forces of Nature, “Its too bad some things just can't be sacred and left alone.” (Forces of Nature) The environmentalist community is divided because of different values and perceptions of sustainability.
People often turn to, or against, the government when searching for change. Although talked about, protecting the environment is not a top priority for many governments. The Green Parties in Europe have found relative success. They hold many legislative positions and as a result of their initial popularity in the 1970s and 80s, many other political parties adopted environmental policies (Jacobs). The U.S government does not easily encourage or aid alternative energy research, in fact there are many strict regulations that hinder the development of hydropower projects. There are politicians who are helping the cause and putting alternative energy at the forefront of their agendas. Scott Tipton, Colorado Congressman, passed a bill in 2012 that promotes building more hydropower projects in Colorado, reasoning it will boost the economy too. Tipton has a high opinion of hydro, “Hydropower is the cheapest and cleanest source of electricity.” (Hooper) The government lacks a sense of urgency in supporting renewable energy, and as Porter Fox says in his New York Times article, “Nothing besides a national policy shift on how we create and consume energy will keep our mountains white in the winter — and slow global warming to a safe level.”
Developing countries have the opportunity to design their energy and environmental policies in a sustainable way. The World Bank sees this potential and supports many micro-hydro projects all over the world. The establishment of a micro hydro system in Nepal has been a great success, “Electricity has brought about a major change in the villages reached by this micro-hydro. In addition to 22 industries powered through this plant, the town of Darbang boasts a higher standard of living for its residents.” Micro-hydro projects face the same governmental challenges and possible ecological impacts, however a small river can boost a small village’s economy and raise the standard of living.
There will never be a solution to climate change, however many steps can be made in the right direction. The research I have done thus far reflects how complicated “simple” solutions, such as hydro, can be and how for any real progress to be made there needs to compromise and priorities set on both sides of the argument.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ecological Sustainability as a Conservation Concept. J Baird Callicott and Karen Mumford, Conservation Biology, Vol 11, No. 1 (Feb, 1997), pp. 32-40. Published by: Wiley for Society for Conservation Biology. Article Stable URL http://www.jstor.org/stable/2387273
"Castle Creek Energy Center." City of Aspen and Pitkin County, Colorado. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Living-in-the-Valley/Green-Initiatives/Renewable-Energy/Hydroelectric/Castle-Creek-Energy-Center/>.
United States of America. Environmental Protection Agency. Climate Change. EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. <http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/hydro.html>.
Ferry, Tim. "Myanmar's Struggle to Fix Its Failing Energy System and Embrace Renewables." Renewable Energy World. N.p., 02 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2014/01/myanmars-struggle-to-fix-its-failing-energy-system-embrace-renewables>.
Fox, Porter. "The End of Snow?" The New York Times 09 Feb. 2014: n. pag. The New York Times. 09 Feb. 2014. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/opinion/sunday/the-end-of-snow.html?_r=2>.
Galbraith, Kate. "Hydropower’s Resurgence and the Controversy Around It." The New York Times. N.p., 15 May 2011. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. <Hydropower’s Resurgence and the Controversy Around It>.
Hooper, Troy. "Controversial Hydropower Bill Passes House | The Colorado Independent." The Colorado Independent. N.p., 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://www.coloradoindependent.com/114961/controversial-hydropower-bill-passes-house>.
Jacobs, Michael. "Green Blues in Europe." JSTOR. N.p., 15 July 1989. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/4395075>.
"Renewable Energy Powers Rural Nepal Into the Future." The World Bank. The World Bank Group, 05 Feb. 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. <http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2014/02/05/renewable-energy-powers-rural-nepal-into-the-future>.
Resource Renewal Institute. “Protecting the Sacred.” Online video clip. Forces of Nature. Forces of Nature, 12 Nov. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.