Here are a few images from a coal power plant. Click to view a larger image. There are three basic types of power generation plants in the Susquehanna River Basin. These three types are coal-fired plants as discussed above, nuclear plants, and hydroelectric dams. All three of these methods of power generation rely on water resources from the Susquehanna River.
Hydroelectric power is generated using the kinetic energy of water.
Due to its small size, the Susquehanna River cannot generate enough force to rely completely on hydroelectric dams as a source of electricity. However, a few hydroelectric dams do exist in the Susquehanna River Basin, but they produce electricity on a smaller scale. One such plant is the Conowingo Hydroelectric Plant, which is located four miles north of the Chesapeake Bay. The dam spans some 4600 feet and its eleven generators are capable of generating 512,000 kilowatts. Although hydroelectric dams may seem as if they are completely friendly to the environment, they do have some adverse effects.