Hydroelectric Power

Massive dams on the Missouri River constructed in the 1950s and 60s not only provide flood control along the river but also help generate thousands of kilowatts of electricity. Hydroelectric power is truly a renewable source of energy with snowmelt and rainfall annually refilling the reservoirs.

How It Works

Rushing water produces energy by flowing through dams and spinning turbine blades. These blades are connected to generators which are hooked up to transmission lines. These lines deliver electricity to homes and communities across the region.

There are several advantages to using hydroelectric dams to produce power. First, since the dams do not burn fossil fuels, they do not produce harmful green house gases. Secondly, hydroelectricity is not subject to the same fluctuations in price as fossil fuels so the cost of operating the structures are considerably less. Another added bonus of these dams is the incredible water recreation that the massive reservoirs create for the areas surrounding them.

South Dakota has four major dams that are operated by the Army Corp of Engineers. These federally owned dams help provide low-cost power to Touchstone Energy co-ops so we can power your homes with renewable energy. South Dakota’s federal hydropower plants are located at: The Oahe Dam near Ft. Pierre; the Big Bend Dam near Ft. Thompson; the Fort Randall Dam near Pickstown; and the Gavins Point Dam near Yankton.