Question 1

Could the Schuylkill ever power a lot of homes?

Accepted Answer

No. The river's dams are low and its flow is seasonal, so even all of them together would make a small amount of power. Small hydro here is measured in enough for a building or a block, not a neighborhood.

Question 2

Why keep the dams if they don't make power?

Accepted Answer

They hold water levels for recreation and rowing, and in Fairmount's case carry a fish ladder and a landmark. Some are also just expensive to remove.

Question 3

What is the hardest part of reviving a dam for power?

Accepted Answer

Usually the combination of a small height drop, seasonal flow, federal licensing, and fish passage. Any one is manageable, but together they often make the math fail.

Question 4

Is anyone doing small hydro in the region?

Accepted Answer

The likelier path is conduit hydro inside existing water and wastewater systems, which faces a lighter federal review. Restored mill dams are rare.

Question 5

Who decides whether a dam gets a turbine?

Accepted Answer

FERC licenses the project, PA DEP oversees dam safety and water quality, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission weighs in on fish passage.

Analysis archive: every entry, most recent first

The archive

The Schuylkill Made Power Once. Some Sites Want To Again.

Solar on a school roof, one job at a time

The City's Own Solar Program, and the Rowhouses It Reaches