Hydroelectric power's dirty secret revealed

[Alan Liefting]

Contrary to popular belief, hydroelectric power can seriously damage the
climate. Proposed changes to the way countries' climate budgets are
calculated aim to take greenhouse gas emissions from hydropower
reservoirs into account, but some experts worry that they will not go
far enough.

See http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change/dn7046

[Matty]

Post by Alan Liefting
Contrary to popular belief, hydroelectric power can seriously damage the
climate. Proposed changes to the way countries' climate budgets are
calculated aim to take greenhouse gas emissions from hydropower
reservoirs into account, but some experts worry that they will not go
far enough.
See http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change/dn7046

The main argument seems to be about vegetation that is flooded when a
dam is first built. If that really matters (and I don't think it does)
then the solution is to clear the area first. Besides most of NZs dams
have been around for long enough that the flooded vegetation has long gone.

The second argument about methane being generated long term would apply
to all lakes in NZ. So should Lake Taupo be drained? I'm sure we can
find thousands of lakes in other countries that generate CO2 and
methane. Please add those to the list to be taxed.