The U.S. could have over 12 GW more electricity generating capacity if dams that are not equipped for power generation were brought online, according to a Department of Energy report.
The output from turning the dams into generators would be equivalent to about 15 percent of the current hydro capacity in the country.
"The greatest hydropower resource potential was found at lock and dam facilities on the Ohio, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas Rivers – facilities owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers," the department said.
The announcement did not address the cost of adding hydropower capacity at the dams. The report looked at 54,000 sites, it said.
