Region 4: The Cascade-Sierra Mountains

Just like the Rockies, these two tall mountain ranges provide perfect opportunities for hydroelectric power. There are hundreds of hydroelectric power plants throughout the region, which provide the area with a majority of this renewable energy. Although there are also thousands of acres of forests, some of the region is protected by the National Forest Service, including Sequoia National Forest, home to some of the largest and oldest trees in the world. One of the most famous environmental conservationists, John Muir, helped promote the preservation of the area, which resulted in the founding of Yosemite National Park. Much of this region is managed wood forest, and although hydroelectric energy is by far the major source of energy, several wood-burning power generation plants can also be found here. Wind, biomass, and several solar power plants round out the energy production profile for the region.