A common misconception is that hydroelectricity has the advantage over other renewables of requiring less land. This is not the case. The surface area of Lake Mead is 640 square kilometers -- this much ecologically viable land was destroyed to make way for hydroelectricity. The power generation capacity afforded by the Hoover Dam on this lake is roughly 2 GW. A solar panel produces roughly (we're lowballing) 100 watt…
Being just a tourist to Hoover Dam it was explained to me that the main purpose of the dam was to regulate the water and have it available for people and farmers. Power generation was only ever a secondary consideration.