Hydropower is energy collected from flowing water that's converted into electricity or used to power machinery. Hydropower has been around for centuries, used to turn millwheels or drive early industrial machinery, but in modern use it typically refers to electrical generation. Today hydropower generates more electricity in the United States than any other renewable energy source, and the Department of Energy's Wind and Water Power Program promotes and accelerates its use throughout the country. For businesses, hydro offers recruiting benefits alongside a cost-effective and plentiful source of green energy. Generating Clean Electricity A primary use of hydropower energy is to produce electricity. The main ingredients of hydroelectric power plants are dams, rivers and turbines. Plants use dams to create reservoirs where the water is stored. This water is then released through turbines and spun to activate generators and create electricity. The first hydropower electrica