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<br />('P'" <br /> <br />Cj <br />r-l <br /><-) <br />C", <br />.- <br /> <br />AQUATRAIN <br />April 1983 <br /> <br />Section 6. <br /> <br />Benefits <br /> <br />BENEFI TS, COSTS, AND PROJEX:T SUPPORT <br /> <br />Opportunities in the AQUATRAIN project include an econ~c alternative <br />to reduce salinity in the Colorado River. Estimates indicate substantial <br />savings with AQUATRAIN versus other forms of salinity control. Use of <br />the AQUATRAIN pipeline system to take saline water from just one (Glenwood- <br />Dotsero Springs, Colorado) of the 16 major saline sources could save <br />$280 million in single purpose Federal costs over the cost of evaporation <br />ponds, the next least expensive alternative. The Federal Government and <br />American taxpayers would benefit from private industry funding of AQUATRAIN <br />construction through payment of commodity transport fees. In essence, <br />the fees would subsidize the salinity control Objective of the project. <br /> <br />Because AQUATRAIN construction will be funded by private industry, a large <br />quantity of salinity control tax monies could be diverted to other pressing <br />projects. Additionally, saline water transported by AQUATRAIN and used <br />in powerplant cooling towers could free large quantities of freshwater <br />for agricultural and municipal use. Salinity control would allow the <br />Colorado River Basin States to more fully develop their water allotments, <br />a possibility which would also aid energy development. <br /> <br />As an economic transportation mode for delivering coal to domestic markets, <br />AQUATRAIN would contribute to reversing the Ration's long-standing dependence <br />on foreign oil for energy. AQUATRAIN would help provide less expensive, <br />more inflation-proof, and predictably costed energy for consumers through <br />use of domestic coal supplies. In addition, new coal-fired powerplants <br />could be located in sparsely populated southwest areas. These new plants <br />could replace oil- and gaS-fired powerplants which emit high levels of <br />nitrous oxides in metropolitan areas. The oil and gas saved could be <br />used for other beneficial purposes. Through the efforts of San Diego <br />Gas and Electric Company, some 20 utilities have indicated interest in <br />using a site near Blythe, California, as a regional coal-based power park <br />for the early 1990's, with coal delivered by AQUATRAIN. Other southwest <br />utilities are expressing interest in using coal delivered by AQUATRAIN <br />to fuel powerplants now approaching construction. Such plants would be <br />less costly than those proposed for synfuels. <br /> <br />Pacific-rim countries such as Japan have not, to date, given any firm <br />expression of interest in utilizing AQUATRAIN to deliver coal for export, <br />but discussions are continuing. If a portion of AQUATRAIN delivered coal <br />is marketed to Pacific-rim countries, the balance of trade would be enhanced. <br /> <br />Economic benefits would result through ~rketing or recycling the transport <br />medium (liquid CO2) at the end of the pipeline. By moving other commodities <br />in the pipeline on an alternating basis, benefits of increased revenues <br />and commodity availability would accrue. <br /> <br />20 <br />