American steel was used and American company names are all around the powerhouses. What has changed is the people who use the power. Mountain families thrilled at having electricity have become more sophisticated and perhaps more prosperous. Now, they think environmentally, and they see problems with the hydro plants. Ronald McKitrick works for FERC in it Office of Energy Projects.
Licenses now have to fit into today's environment, and it is a lot different.
Water is diverted to the turbine, but it is done while still allowing water to spill into the original creek or river bed. The water flow may be reduced, but it still runs. The water goes into a pipe that often stretches several miles until it reaches the power plant. When water is not being released from the plant, stream flows are affected in varying degrees. And it isn't just private environmental groups pushing for more water into these areas.