4 Responses

1. It generates no greenhouse gasses or any other pollutants.

   It is infinitely renewable, as there will always be rivers. (This also means you don’t have to buy fuel for it).

   Best of all: it is not intermittent, meaning it is always available, day and night 24/7. Wind and solar do not have this advantage, since they only work when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining, respectively.

   Those are pretty much the three best things about it.

   If you want some cons for it, those would include disruption of ecosystems (many animals depend on an interrupted flow), the fact that it is only available in a few specific locations (most places don’t have giant rivers nearby), and the slight safety risk (the dam could break and a wall of water could flood the shores downstream).

   http://www.epa.gov/cleanpower/energy-and-you/affect/hydro.html

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3. Just search Google and wikipedia the info isn’t perfect but it’s a pretty good source.

4. Dams may compensate for the water flow that has already been messed up by humans.
   When rain falls on forest and fields it soaks up and slowly drains down to streams and rivers. This gives the rivers a long slow source.
   When cities are built. the rain hits roof tops and paved roads. It is funneled down and flows quickly into rivers. This gives rivers either flood or dry.
   Smart planning can capture rain water for a more consistent release. With proper studies and preparations rivers can even be planned to have changes of water levels to mimic precivilization conditions.