WIND POWER

Hydro Power “Hydro” means “water” in Latin – so “hydro power” is made from water. It might sound odd that we can use water to make electricity - they're a dangerous combination, right? Actually, the water never comes in contact with the electricity. The water flowing down a river is used to spin the turbines inside the generator. People have used water power for more than 2,000 years. Ancient Egyptians used water wheels for grinding grain, and early Americans learned how to use them for sawing wood. In the 1880s, scientists learned how to use a flowing river to spin the turbines of a generator. The first hydroelectric power plant in the U.S. opened on the Fox River near Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1882. By the 1940s, nearly half of the electricity in the United States came from hydro power. After World War II, coal power plants became more popular. Hydro power isn't very common in the Midwest because most of our rivers are small and slow. Alliant Energy has three hydro power plants, including one in Kilbourne, Wisconsin, that's been making electricity for more than 90 years! Most of the big hydroelectric power plants in the United States are in California, Oregon and Washington. People built dams to control the power of the big mountain rivers. Workers can change the amount of water flowing through the dam depending on the weather and how much electricity people need. The biggest hydroelectric dam in the United States is the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington. Started in 1933 and completed in 1942, it’s the largest concrete structure ever built: 5,233 feet long and 550 feet high! It has four power plants with 33 generators, making enough electricity for more than two million homes. View photos of the Grand Coulee Dam Rule Want to learn more? If you need more information about hydro power, visit these Web sites: Hydropower: Energy from Moving WaterBy the U.S. Department of Energy Walk Through a Hydroelectric Power PlantBy the Foundation for Water & Energy Education Questions and Answers about Renewable Energy What is renewable energy? Renewable energy is made from resources that can be renewed by Mother Nature – wind, water, sunshine and underground heat. Renewable energy is also called “clean energy” or “green power” because is doesn’t produce harmful pollution. What is a fossil fuel? Coal, oil and natural gas are called fossil fuels - they were formed deep under the earth millions of years ago from the decomposition of plant and animal matter. Fossil fuels are used to generate electricity because they're widely available, inexpensive, easy to transport, easy to use, and the power plants can be located almost anywhere. Why don’t we use renewable energy all the time? Unlike natural gas and coal, we can’t store up wind and sunshine to use whenever we need to make more electricity. If the wind doesn’t blow or the sun hides behind clouds, there wouldn’t be enough power for everyone. Another reason we use fossil fuels like coal and natural gas is because they’re cheaper. It costs more money to make electricity from wind, and most people don’t want to pay more on their monthly utility bills. How do solar panels work? The solar collectors you see on rooftops use a process called photovoltaics. Silicon, an element found in sand, is used to convert sunlight directly into energy. If you have a solar-powered watch or calculator, you’re using photovoltaics! Learn more about solar energy How do wind turbines work? A wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, a turbine uses wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to a substation, then on to homes, business and schools. What is a wind farm? It’s a power plant made up entirely of wind turbines – sometimes one or two, or as many as 150. It’s called a “farm” because they’re usually found in rural areas. Learn more about wind power