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Renewable Power Policy and Hydroelectric Dams Essay

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Renewable Power Policy and Hydroelectric Dams There has been much controversy over changes in the environment due to the placement of hydroelectric dams, and also due to the pollution caused by other power plants which use non-renewable sources of energy. The arguments which come from certain groups against both sides seem rather strange. The purpose of this paper is to explore the environmental and other effects from both energy sources, and the arguments which are presented by different groups who lobby for and against the two sources of power. It appears in many opinions; a group will only access one issue, actually separating two topics which go hand in hand. The focus for examples in this paper with mainly rely on …show more content…

In the Lake Powell area, there are many recreational and historic sites, such as Rainbow Bridge National Monument. “The flooding of Glen Canyon has damaged critical habitat for endangered fish and plant species and destroyed tens of thousands of archaeological and sacred sites, including a significant portion of Rainbow Bridge National Monument – one of the most sacred sites and culturally significant sites for Native American tribes of the Colorado Plateau.” (“Glen”) Now the example used is the “National Monument,” which was made by the US government. The actual existence of Rainbow Bridge was not harmed at all. It is still well out of the water, now a one mile hike from the lake. This actually makes access to the bridge easier, without destroying the area of importance to the Natives. A “national monument” title and set amount of land is not important to these first people, only the sacred piece of ground. The Navajo nations natural resources director denounced the Sierra Club on the issue “for giving legitimacy – and momentum – to the radical fantasy.” (Zengerle) These areas are of importance to many people, but what is lost is changing, not just disappeared. Supporters of the draining do not focus on the underlying and very important subjects which are important to the world’s future. The sources of pollution and change in ecosystems have much to do with power

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