“First, do no harm” is a phrase associated with health care professionals, but it also applies to sustainability practices. Clean energy deployment is as much about reducing harm (pollution) as it is about reducing costs, and when it comes to hydropower—which provides nearly one-third of renewable electricity generation in the United States and is growing—a key area of concern is the safety of ecosystems and species, especially fish.
The International Water Power and Dam Construction Magazine selected Gia and the other leaders on this list based on nominations from within the hydropower industry.
Nearly half of the world’s fish species live in freshwater rivers, lakes, and wetlands, even though those represent less than 0.01% of the Earth’s water.