As the U.S. and other countries expand clean energy, large hydropower dams, often seen as a reliable renewable solution, can come with significant environmental and social costs if not planned thoughtfully.
New research from Michigan State University finds that without better planning and community involvement, dam projects risk repeating decades-old mistakes — raising important questions about dam construction and hydroelectricity projects.
Today, hydropower generates more than half of the world’s renewable electricity, and the research team’s findings, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, are starting to form the basis for global conversations on how to address the challenges surrounding dam projects.