Conservation International support the development of electricity generation for domestic consumption and export as these are critical components of development for Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Conservation group WWF says the extensive use of cannons drains the water and electricity supplies, and the building of the pipes disfigures the mountain landscape for many years.

BBC: Snow cannons pump out artificial snow

Consumers and businesses need reliable supplies of energy to make our economy run so I urge you to pass legislation to modernize our electricity system, promote conservation, and make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

CNN: Transcript of State of the Union

"We now have very strong evidence that Brazil's ability to generate electricity depends on forest conservation, " said co-author Dr Daniel Nepstad, executive director of IPAM-IP.

BBC: Rainforest plays critical role in hydropower generation