Texas, with its vast open landscapes and diversity of renewable
resources, is a rich environment for non-wind and non-solar
renewable energy production. Hydroelectrcity, geothermal energy,
biomass and biofuels are all used to generate power in the Lone
Star State. Hydropower is the most common source of renewable
electricity in the United States. It accounted for 6% of total
U.S. electricity generation and 60% of generation from
renewables in 2010. Hydroelectric power is generated from the
force of moving or falling water. Most hydroelectric power comes
from dammed water in lakes and reservoirs falling through
turbines that are connected to a generator. The energy
transforms from its potential form to kinetic, mechanical and
finally electric energy in the process. Another form of
hydroelectric power comes from “pumped storage” in which water
moves from a lower-elevation reserve to a higher-elevation
reserve. The water is then released from the higher-elevation
reserve during peak power demand times. While the