During the first seven months of 2009, hydropower consumption in the United States was up 5.1 percent compared with the same period in 2008, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Americans consumed more than 169 million MWh of hydropower through July, up from 161 million MWh last year, according to Electric Power Monthly.
In the largest hydropower-producing states – Washington and Oregon – consumption was down slightly. Washington consumed 49.5 million MWh of hydropower during the first seven months of 2009, down from 51.8 million MWh in 2008. Oregon consumed 22 million MWh, down from 22.2 million MWh last year.
In California, however, hydropower consumption jumped 42.1 percent compared with last year. Alabama recorded the biggest increase, 60.9 percent, after three years of below-average generation because of drought.
Top 10 hydropower-consuming states, January-July (Thousand MWh)
State 2009 2008 Percent Change
Washington 49,494 51,872 -4.6
Oregon 22,061 22,204 -0.6
California 17,826 12,545 42.1
New York 16,527 15,833 4.4
Idaho 6,560 6,269 4.6
Montana 5,832 6,193 -5.8
Alabama 5,783 3,593 60.9
Tennessee 4,914 3,415 43.9
Arizona 4,019 4,629 -13.2
N.C. 2,718 2,018 34.7
Source: Energy Information Administration
