These Water Pipes Generate Electricity

As suggested here, installing turbines into large city pipes that transport water via the flow of gravity is a solid idea underneath the broad heading of hydrokinetics.  Of course, there are caveats:

• The project needs to coincide with another reason to be messing with the water system; no one’s suggesting digging up perfectly good pipes.

• The tie to the grid or large commercial/industrial customer needs to be reasonably convenient and inexpensive.

Some cities (not all) are good candidates for this technology–and have the cultural interest in environmentalism required to make it happen; Portland, OR is perfect on both counts, and they’re getting it done.  Bigly.