Troubled Water: Building a Bridge to Clean Energy through Small Hydropower Regulatory Reform

Authors

Samuel J. Panarella, Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of MontanaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2018

First Page

232

Volume

36

Issue

2

Source Publication Abbreviation

UCLA J. Envtl. L. & Pol'y

Abstract

This Article is presented in four Parts. Part II outlines the history of hydropower regulation in the U.S., including the environmental, geographic, and human effects of big dam hydropower development that ultimately engendered the onerous regulations currently governing all hydropower development. Building off of this history, Part III discusses America’s hydropower potential, the available methods for tapping it, and the possible environmental impacts of these methods. Part IV provides an overview of the current regulations governing small hydropower. Part V concludes by proposing areas where the regulatory framework for low-impact small hydropower should be reformed to properly and responsibly encourage its development, including by (1) making a regulatory distinction between low-impact and more physically intrusive methods of hydropower generation; and (2) streamlining and expediting the approval process for low-impact small hydropower projects.

Recommended Citation

Panarella, Samuel J., "Troubled Water: Building a Bridge to Clean Energy through Small Hydropower Regulatory Reform" (2018). Faculty Law Review Articles. 151.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/faculty_lawreviews/151