Oregon produces the lowest amount of hydroelectricity in 22 years

(APRIL 11, 2024) Climate change affects many things. It even affects the supply of electricity from dams in Oregon. Oregon Public Broadcasting wrote a news story about this. It said hydropower for electricity from dams in Oregon and Washington fell to new lows. And it could drop even more by the end of 2024.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration shared new data. Washington, California, and Oregon are the three largest makers of hydroelectriciy in the country. However, it also says that hydropower generation in the Pacific Northwest was the lowest in 22 years. Oregon, for example, generated 20% less hydropower in 2023 than in 2021. 

The government believes this is because of low precipitation (rain and snow) in the fall and winter. Also there were extremely warm temperatures in May 2023. That melted a lot of snow on the mountains earlier than usual. Officials continue to worry about more drought, high temperatures, and heavy rains.