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<br />3601 <br /> <br />10 <br /> <br />COMMONLY ASKED QUEsrIONS ABOUT rHE <br />CLOSED BASIN PROJECT <br /> <br />Question: <br /> <br />Official statements say that about 13,000,000 kilowatts of electrical <br />power will be needed to operate the project each year. This pO\ler will <br />be furniahed by local utility companies. Why isn't some form of alter- <br />native energy part of the project plan? How will local utilities meet <br />this new demand for a large amount of power? Who \lil1 pay for these <br />powerlines? <br /> <br />Answer: <br /> <br />The federal government has an alternative energy program which is <br />active in the San Luis Valley. Automatic wind measuring stations have <br />been installed at a number of locations in the Valley. They are <br />collecting information to determine if this energy source is feasible. <br />The Department of Energy is designing a solar energy system which will <br />be installed at a project well. This program will help the Bureau find <br />out if solar energy technology can be used for the project. <br /> <br />The fact that the project is currently designed to run off <br />"conventional" eneq;y sources reflects the decision of the U.S. <br />Congress to authorize a water salvage 9foject, not an experimental <br />program in alternative energy. The positive steps that are being taken <br />to make sure that project alternative energy options are not closed <br />does not mean that the utility companies will not be able to meet long <br />term project energy needs. The project was originally planned to <br />operate with hydropower from Government facilities. rhe distribution <br />system was to have been built and operated by the Government. Numerous <br />citizens asked if private landowers would be able to get electrical ser- <br />vice from the Closed Basin Project System. rhese requests and the <br />other factors noted belo\l prompted the Bureau to find out if local uti- <br />lity companies could provide the power needed to run the project. rhe <br />utility companies firmly state that project power requirements have <br />been included in their plans to keep the San Luis Valley supplied with <br />power. rhat assurance means that project power needs will be included <br />with the power needs of a growing San Luis Valley in the utility com- <br />panies' long range planning. Part of that planning is the design and <br />operation of power plants to meet all applicable laws and regulations <br />protecting the air and environment. <br /> <br />Energy costs of new development must be very carefully evaluated. <br />rhese costs were carefully weighed in the studies which found that the <br />Closed Basin Project is economically justified. Talks with the utility <br />companies began in earnest in 1978. rhe utility companies knew about <br />