From the rushing waters of early hydropower to today’s greenhouse gas reduction projects, the evolution of renewable energy is one of ingenuity and adaptation. Take a journey from the hydropower projects of our founder Daniel Mead’s era in the early 1900s to modern innovation that turns agricultural waste into renewable energy.
The Early 1900s: Hydropower Harnesses the River’s Might
In the early 20th century, hydropower was a cornerstone of renewable energy, well before the official term renewable energy existed. As industrialization gained momentum, engineers turned to rivers and waterfalls to generate electricity. Hydroelectric power plants were a clean, seemingly limitless energy source compared to coal, and these plants helped electrify growing cities and industries along our nation’s waterways.
When Daniel Mead ventured into the world of hydraulic engineering, a legacy began that would span 125 years, touching hundreds of communities and influencing the work of countless engineers. He began his hydrology career in the late 1880s, and in 1900, he established his own consulting firm (later Mead & Hunt), where he developed a reputation for practicality and innovation.
One of the firm’s early projects included designing the Kilbourn (Wisconsin Dells) hydroelectric facility on the Wisconsin River in 1906. This led Mead to serve as chief engineer for other major hydrology projects in the Midwest. Between 1913 and 1933, Mead and his firm designed 17 hydroelectric facilities in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois. His reputation reached the highest office in the country when President Calvin Coolidge appointed Mead to the Colorado River Board to review plans for the Hoover Dam project.
Combining Ethics and Environmentalism
The dam projects during this early era provided key sources of dependable, clean energy, but they sometimes included environmental trade-offs. Mead understood that large dams could disrupt the ecosystems, alter water flow, and potentially displace communities. Even then, he was determined to “do the right thing” by sharing the impacts of hydroelectric projects and encouraging others in his field to have an ethical and environmental mindset.
While our founder was a pioneering engineer who established a national reputation for excellence, he was, first and foremost, a man of ethics. He also cared deeply about the natural world.
His volume Notes on Hydrology and the Application of its Laws to the Problems of Hydraulic Engineering (1904) was the first hydrology book ever published. He sought to further share his wisdom and experience to reduce the environmental and social impacts of hydrology projects by publishing several more books and contributing numerous articles on the topic of engineering ethics that appeared in Civil Engineering (1936), Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers (1940), The Wisconsin Engineer (1941), and many more.
The Evolution of Mead & Hunt and Renewable Energy
With a past rooted in hydrology, we’ve always believed that the power of water extends beyond energy—it’s a symbol of adaptability and resilience. Harnessing nature’s resources laid the foundation for our commitment to clean energy. Those early years taught us the importance of respecting the environment and working in harmony with its rhythms, shaping our approach to new energy solutions and our dedication to sustainability.
As the country’s energy and technology needs evolved, so have we. Staying true to our principles, we’ve expanded our expertise from hydropower to embrace new frontiers in renewable natural gas (RNG), greenhouse gas reduction (GHGR), combined heat and power (CHP), decarbonization, and beyond. By building on the knowledge and values of our past, we’re shaping a future where clean energy systems are more innovative, integrated, and accessible than ever before.
Today: Innovative Methane Reduction Projects
Today, sustainability has expanded to generating renewable energy while minimizing environmental harm. We’re helping companies like Faith Technologies develop advanced facilities to convert methane from waste into RNG.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, about 25x more detrimental to our atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Using anaerobic digesters—systems that break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen—clients can capture methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. By capturing and repurposing it, we can reduce emissions and turn waste into a valuable energy source.
In the case of one of our projects in southcentral Wisconsin, we designed and built an anaerobic digester system that includes membrane treatment to purify waste into pipeline-quality RNG, providing a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Incorporating solar panels and a microgrid to power operations at the facility further reduced the fuel’s carbon intensity score and increased electrical resiliency. In all, this project reduced emissions by more than 13,500 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent per year. The results demonstrate how multiple renewable energy practices can combine to create a greener tomorrow.
Rivers to Renewables: The Evolution Continues
The clean energy transition from early hydropower to current RNG projects reflects a broader shift in our relationship with energy. Early 20th-century engineers focused on capturing the power of nature, and today’s engineers are furthering this to reduce environmental impact and unearth value in what was once considered waste.
Renewable energy is about more than finding alternatives to finite fossil fuels. We’re working to create energy systems that contribute to a more sustainable future, always striving to empower communities and protect our planet.
