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Capacity is the maximum amount of electricity a generator can produce at one time. For exam- <br />ple, on an August evening, an average residential consumer may need 3 kW or .003 MW of elec- <br />tricity. Power plants must have enough capacity to produce an average of 3 kW of electricity for <br />every consumer plus additional needs of commerc ial and industrial customers. In the West, one <br />megawatt generally provides enough electricity for 400 to 900 homes. <br /> Most of the nation’s power comes from burning fossil fuels, like coal and natural gas. <br />Unlike these thermal technologies, which exhaust the energy resource used, hydropower relies <br />upon an abundant and renewable energy source -- wa ter. Hydropower Is typically produced at a <br />dam by converting the kinetic energy of <br />falling water into electricity. After run- <br />ning through the turbine, the water re- <br />turns to the river. Hydropower is the <br />leading renewable energy resource. It <br />provides a low-cost and efficient way of <br />producing electricity with no pollutants. <br />As much as 90% of the fuel flowing into <br />Courtesy of the Bureau of Reclamation <br />hydropower plants is converted into <br />electricity compared to 35% at traditio nal fossil fuel burning plants. It has <br />low operating costs and is very reliable. Hydropower also reduces depend- <br />ence on less environmentally sensitive fossil fuels. <br />Hydropower helps to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. <br /> Hydropower is key to system reliability of the power grid in the <br />West. Power must be produced and delivered when it is needed. Baseload units, normally fossil fuel plants, provide the minimu m <br />amount of electricity necessary to satisfy demand. They run c ontinuously and take a long time to start up again once they are shut <br />down. When temperatures rise or drop and demand for electricity increases, peaking units, like hydropower, step in to compensa te <br />for additional demand. Hydropower can ramp-up to meet <br />demands quickly and efficiently. Both baseload and peaking <br />units are essential for a reliable system. <br />Glen Canyon <br />power transmis- <br /> 3 <br />