Power Generation
From ASDSO Dam Safety Toolbox
Hoover Dam Hydropower |
Dams can be used to generate power as water passes through the dam. The energy created by the water passing through the dam is captured by a generator and passed onto a nearby power grid. The United States is one of the largest producers of hydropower in the world, second only to Canada. Dams produce between 8 and 12 percent of the nation’s power needs.