Hydro Electricity

The Hoover Dam -Located 50 km Southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada Construction was completed in 1936: at the time it was the largest hydro-electric dam in the world (currently is 34th) Constructed on the Colorado river on the border between Arizona and Nevada (Pacific Standard Time Zone and Mountain Standard Time Zone) Created Lake Mead, the reservoir that formed behind the dam.

Hydro-electric generating stations can be built: On rivers that have changes in elevation Where there is a large and reliable source of water Electricity is generated as water moves from high to low levels of elevation (gravity) HIGH LOW

How do Hydro-electric Generating Stations work? Step # 1 First we need to build a Dam, which functions to hold back a great deal of water and create a Reservoir

Step # 2 The Intake Gate of the dam is opened, and gravity pulls the water through The water travels through the Penstock, a pipeline that leads to the turbine As the water moves down the Penstock, the water pressure increases within the pipe

Intake gates

Step # 3 -The water strikes the blades of the Turbines, which is attached to a generator -The high water pressure and flow cause the turbines to spin (“paddlewheel”)

When the water reaches this turbine through the Penstock, it is exceeding speeds of 130 km/hour

Step # 4 -As the turbine spins, the Generator is able to harness the power through a series of magnets and copper coils

Hoover Dam has a total of 17 Generators

Step # 5 -Power is moved from the Generator to the Transformer - The transformer converts the power into a high voltage current

Step # 6 - The Power Lines transfer the electricity from the powerhouse to small towns nearby, or even major cities hundred of kilometers away!

These power lines carry electricity all the way to Los Angeles, California… 428 Km Away!

Step # 7 Used water is carried through pipelines called Tailraces This Outflow of water re-enters the river downstream

Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge-Being the longest, highest arched concrete bridge in the Western Hemisphere-perched 890 feet above the Colorado River and the Hoover Dam in Nevada -completed in 2010

The spillways at Hoover dam have only been used twice: in 1983 and 1999.

Why are hydro developments full of controversy? Hydro development results in a form of “clean” energy. Hydro power can be sold as a natural resource. The building of a dam will damage the environment. Whose land is being damaged? How should development be done? Who should be a part of the decision-making process?

Wuskwatim: the latest Manitoba Hydro project Aboriginal protesters

Wuskwatim Hydro Development in Manitoba Involves the development of a 200-megawatt generating station at Taskinigup Falls on the Burntwood River. Involves less than half a square kilometre of flooding. Located in the Nelson House Resource Management Area, approximately 45 km southwest of Thompson, 35 km southeast of Nelson House. Being developed by an equity partnership between Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) and Manitoba Hydro

Wuskwatim Dam, Manitoba How a Hydro Dam works Video #1 While viewing this Manitoba Hydro video take into consideration the following: How is MB Hydro taking into consideration Aboriginal beliefs and perspectives? Do you believe that they are doing as good a job as the video indicates? 2008-2009 Wuskwatim Hydro Dam Info http://www.wuskwatim.ca/videos.html (all videos)

Wuskwatim 2014 Hydro Perspective (bias) Wuskwatim 2014 A New Beginning 25 mins Wuskwatim Hydro Seeding 2 mins Wuskwatim Fish Habitat Enhancement 3 mins The Other End of the Line Film - Indigenous Perspective 30 mins