Cali "environmentalists" want to demolish a dam, killing 124 MW. Wait, did y'all think...nah

There's a dam in California.  Built from 1919 to 1922 at a cost of about $92 million in current dollars.  Has a generating capacity of 124 megawatts, and provides great water to San Francisco.

Pushers of the Green New Deal want to demolish it. 

This is a hoot, because if they get their way, how do you think those 124 MW will be replaced?

Sure:  With power generated "somewhere else," likely by carbon fuels.

Oooh, is that what they really want?

"Wait...what?  No, why would we need to replace that generating capacity?  We'll just pass a law that says people have to use 124 MW LESS than the state is using now.  See?  It's so EASY!  You folks only think it's hard because you hate the environment, and love oil companies!  Yep yep yep!"

Okay sparky, who do you propose your law should ban from using the power they've had in the past?

"Uhh...well...uh...ya know...I mean...uhh... Wait, I got it!  We'll just pass another law forcing everyone to buy new, more-efficient appliances that will save that much energy!  See?  It's so EASY!"

Wait, do you expect people living on welfare to be able to afford to buy those fancy new--and costly--appliances?

"Uhh...well...uh...  I got it!  We'll just write a provision into one of the new laws that people who make less than...uh...150 percent of the poverty level will get a check from the state to cover the cost!  See?  It's so EASY!"

So you're seriously proposing to tear down an existing dam--that produces the cleanest energy available--at an estimated cost of between $3-billion and $10 billion^[46] --and lose clean hydroelectric power, which would have to be replaced by polluting fossil fuel generation--for what?

"Uh...cuz that dam isn't natural.  We need to restore the natural beauty that valley had before those awful engineers ruined it!"

Ah, got it.

Hetch Hetchy reservoir