Question

A community is considering switching to hydropower to meet its electricity needs. Hydropower offers the advantage of being a renewable energy source. However, there can also be drawbacks to its implementation. Which of the following potential disadvantages should be most carefully considered when evaluating this proposal for hydropower?
Group of answer choices

It is a new type of power that other towns have not tried.

It relies on wind activity, so power could change with the weather.

It could cause flooding and displace wildlife.

Answer 1

When evaluating a proposal for hydropower, the potential disadvantage that should be most carefully considered is:

**It could cause flooding and displace wildlife.**

Hydropower can have significant environmental impacts, including altering local ecosystems, displacing wildlife, and potentially causing flooding as a result of dam construction. These factors can have long-term effects on biodiversity and the health of the ecosystem, which makes this consideration critical in the decision-making process. The other options (newness of the technology and reliance on wind activity) do not accurately reflect the nature of hydropower. Hydropower does not rely on wind, as it is driven by water flow, and it has been successfully implemented in many areas.