While hydro power is one of the most productive forms of alternative energy, it does not come without controversy. It was first proposed over 90 years ago by Sun Yat Sen, but it wasn't until 1992 when Chinese premier Li Peng proposed the 3 Gorges Dam, set to be one of the largest dams in the world, that it was built. The project cost $180 billion. It was meant to control the flow of the Yangtze River, as well as provide electricity, ultimately to boost their economy. While it has done just that, it has also created a new range of problems. The dam is preventing the river from getting rid of pollutants, leading to a significant decrease in the quality of the water supply, causing soil erosion, which results in landslides, and forced more than 1.4 million citizens to move. This is causing much controversy, and will continue to do so until these problems are fixed.
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