After dropping to a 20-year low, western U.S. hydropower generation rose 13% last year

After decreasing to a 20-year low for the 2020-21 water year, hydropower production in the western United States increased slightly during last year’s water year, rising 13% to reach 161 million megawatthours (MWh). Western hydro generation can vary significantly from year to year because it follows rain and snowpack patterns.