is it possible to preserve a healthy stream while also producing renewable energy?
There is no silver lining. When developing a hydroelectric project, solar or wind farm there will be aesthetic, ecological, and economic tradeoffs. It is common for alternative energy projects to be halted because there is opposition from environmentalists who see preserving the current ecology of a stream or river as more important than creating clean energy. Opposition also commonly comes from neighbors who might be visually impacted by the project or politicians who have an invested interest in the area or who are supported by individuals that have a financial interests in the oil or coal industries.
Science has proved that we need to act now. Climate change is not slowing down and many lifestyles and livelihoods are in jeopardy due to the various results of global warming. So how do we understand and reconcile different attitudes and values when combatting climate change? As Ruthie Brown stressed, "we cannot choose between pursuing options A, B, or C- we need to do A, B, and C and do it soon!"
It begins with the process. The process of how hydroelectric projects are proposed and how they continue to move forward is an essential aspect towards melding different opinions on how to combat climate change. Throughout my March Experience, I was most struck by how every individual stressed the importance of a collaborative, transparent, creative, adaptable and accepting process. Advocating for complete protection of the stream or pushing to produce clean energy depends on one’s values and since everyone has a different perspective and we need to accept that and work together.
Besides attempting to implement a holistic, collaborative, and transparent process, what other techniques are there to reconcile different environmental beliefs and goals?
-Pick and choose streams/rivers depending on current health and surrounding habitat. In some cases, a stream might not be ideal for a site because of the specific surroundings or wildlife tendencies near the stream and if that is the case it is important for both sides to recognize that and work together to find another location that might be more productive and less harmful.
-Host public meetings to present the project to residents to assure they are educated about the process, while also welcoming feedback and advice on how to move forward.
-Propose creative and reasonable ways of starting and running the plant to assure that stream health is always being highly considered and monitored.
-Slow start - A hydroelectricity plant has the capability to operate at full capacity which means that it is using all the availible water to produce energy, but that often raises concerns about dewatering the stream and forever impacting the ecosystem. The City of Aspen proposed starting the Castle Creek Hydroelectricity plant on a slow start system which would mean the plant would begin running at 66% of capacity and then they could slowly increase the capacity as they see fit while honoring the environmental tests that will continue to be done (Dolan).
-Stair-step Technique - Each stream or river is given a minimum stream flow number which measures the minimum amount of water the stream should have in it to assure the ecosystem is not being damaged. The process of determining this number was created in the 1970s and as Brent Gardener-Smith says, "It is crude, outdated and doesn't make sense anymore." Instead of giving a stream one minimum stream flow number, there is a technique called the stair-step technique which determines the minimum stream flow depending on the current needs of the stream and water supply. During runoff season, it is possible to have a higher minimum stream flow because of the amount of water, where as during the summer there is less water so the minimum stream flow should adjust. The minimum stream flow is typically measured in cubic feet per second (cfs). This method is just beginning to be adapted because there is financial hesitation because it can lead to less energy production and the payoff may take a few more years, but in the long run that may be less important than producing clean energy and having a healthy steam.
Science has proved that we need to act now. Climate change is not slowing down and many lifestyles and livelihoods are in jeopardy due to the various results of global warming. So how do we understand and reconcile different attitudes and values when combatting climate change? As Ruthie Brown stressed, "we cannot choose between pursuing options A, B, or C- we need to do A, B, and C and do it soon!"
It begins with the process. The process of how hydroelectric projects are proposed and how they continue to move forward is an essential aspect towards melding different opinions on how to combat climate change. Throughout my March Experience, I was most struck by how every individual stressed the importance of a collaborative, transparent, creative, adaptable and accepting process. Advocating for complete protection of the stream or pushing to produce clean energy depends on one’s values and since everyone has a different perspective and we need to accept that and work together.
Besides attempting to implement a holistic, collaborative, and transparent process, what other techniques are there to reconcile different environmental beliefs and goals?
-Pick and choose streams/rivers depending on current health and surrounding habitat. In some cases, a stream might not be ideal for a site because of the specific surroundings or wildlife tendencies near the stream and if that is the case it is important for both sides to recognize that and work together to find another location that might be more productive and less harmful.
-Host public meetings to present the project to residents to assure they are educated about the process, while also welcoming feedback and advice on how to move forward.
-Propose creative and reasonable ways of starting and running the plant to assure that stream health is always being highly considered and monitored.
-Slow start - A hydroelectricity plant has the capability to operate at full capacity which means that it is using all the availible water to produce energy, but that often raises concerns about dewatering the stream and forever impacting the ecosystem. The City of Aspen proposed starting the Castle Creek Hydroelectricity plant on a slow start system which would mean the plant would begin running at 66% of capacity and then they could slowly increase the capacity as they see fit while honoring the environmental tests that will continue to be done (Dolan).
-Stair-step Technique - Each stream or river is given a minimum stream flow number which measures the minimum amount of water the stream should have in it to assure the ecosystem is not being damaged. The process of determining this number was created in the 1970s and as Brent Gardener-Smith says, "It is crude, outdated and doesn't make sense anymore." Instead of giving a stream one minimum stream flow number, there is a technique called the stair-step technique which determines the minimum stream flow depending on the current needs of the stream and water supply. During runoff season, it is possible to have a higher minimum stream flow because of the amount of water, where as during the summer there is less water so the minimum stream flow should adjust. The minimum stream flow is typically measured in cubic feet per second (cfs). This method is just beginning to be adapted because there is financial hesitation because it can lead to less energy production and the payoff may take a few more years, but in the long run that may be less important than producing clean energy and having a healthy steam.
American Rivers is an organization that champions stream health, while also recognizing the need for renewable energy. They believe there are certain locations that are ideal for hydropower, while at times the stream ecology may be more important. Below are examples of how they believe the United States can take advantage of hydropower while also being extremely attentive to river health.