Micro what? Microhydro. The production of electrical power up to 100 kilowatts using a generator and moving water. Think Niagara Falls just really small. Believe it or not, this is an actual industry in more remote places where a home or business or school can be powered using a local stream or waterfall with minimal investment. So why do I bring it up? I think this sort of thing has a place in our not-so-remote society. I read a news article today (see links below) that outlined an ownership dispute over several old mill dams right here in Ontario. The funny thing is that the dispute is over who doesn't own the dams - nobody actually wants ownership of these alleged liabilities. This absolutely blows my mind. The very rivers and waterfalls - the prime real estate of another time - that literally powered a young industrial Canada are now considered useless and costly. ???? Why doesn't someone start producing power with these dams again? Cities could use the power to light park or street lamps and maybe even the odd small office or two. In some cases the power could even be sold back into "the grid". The equipment needed for a microhydro site is reasonably inexpensive and easy to install. Considering any town or city in Ontario (or Canada) that has been around for a hundred years or so probably has a mill dam, it is clear that many, many, many watts of power could be locally produced instead of being pulled from the Hydro One sources. I can even see communities getting together and going "co-op" with this sort of thing. Now get out there and build a microhydro plant!! Who needs more nuclear with ideas like this?!
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