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Energy

Energy development in the Colorado River basin is mostly derived from the burning of fossil fuels and particularly at coal-fired generation stations located near rural communities. There is one nuclear power plant near Phoenix, AZ and another has been proposed near the city of Green River in eastern Utah. Ironically, because this desert landscape has so much sunshine, roof-top solar power generation is negligible, in comparison.

Uses of this power is dedicated to mechanically lift Colorado River water to higher elevations for consumption by industrial agriculture and ever-expanding municipalities. The Colorado River basin has some of the coldest (Gunnison, CO) and the hottest temperatures (Yuma, AZ) in the United States, and climate control in homes and buildings is a dominant use of this energy consumption.

Unfortunately, the development of energy resources from unconventional oil and gas, hard rock oil shale (kerogen) and tar sands (bitumen) is currently under consideration (mostly in eastern Utah and western Colorado) and if these dirty fuels are fully exploited, the Colorado River's water will be seriously challenged both in quantity and in quality, as well the planetary hydrocycle from the emission of greenhouse gases. This form of energy development was promulgated by the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which is probably the most damaging legislation to air, water and land resources ever devised. Here is the voting roster of this legislation.

LEGISLATION

2005 - Energy Policy Act. Wikipedia.

2007- Energy Independence and Security Act. Wikipedia.

ENERGY

  • Click here to read article about hydropower
  • Click here to read article about coal-fired generating stations
  • Click here to read article about strip mining tar sands
  • Click here to read article about nuclear fuel generation

BOOKS

COMPANIES

DOCUMENTS

Academic

The Hydro Reseach Foundation

Solutions from Stanford University

Western Region

Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP)

Colorado River Energy Distributrors Association

Western Area Power Administration

         Hydropower Reports

Upper Colorador River Commission

Institutions & Organizations

Navajo Generating Station

Nuclear Power Plants

OTHER

OIL SHALE & TAR SANDS

URANIUM MINING AND MILLING




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