Question

Based on the following passage, why might the government use the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to undertake hydroelectric power projects instead of allowing private businesses to undertake them?

Before World War I, most power projects were developed by private interests. During the Great Depression, president Franklin Roosevelt developed federal hydropower projects to give low-cost energy to consumers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertook three major hydroelectric power projects during this era: the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, the Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River, and the Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project in Maine. Congress organized the Bonneville Power Administration in 1937 to distribute the power and set usage rates for all power generated at Bonneville Dam.


Hydroelectric power is closely linked to national security.

Private businesses are by law disallowed from engaging in hydroelectric power projects.

The government would have less power to control the cost of electricity from privately funded projects.

Private businesses have less expertise in hydroelectric power than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Answer 1

The government would have less power to control the cost of electricity from privately funded projects.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the given excerpt, the government, the government decided to take over most of the hydroelectric power projects as opposed to privately owned corporations which previously held a monopoly. The major reason was to provide low-cost energy to consumers.

This decision taken by the government to use the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake hydroelectric power projects instead of allowing private businesses to undertake them was to allow the government have more power to control the cost of electricity.