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"', ... ~ . 00:::4JO Hand.in-hand with the development of irrigation, has gone the growth of public hydroelectric power. the paying pa-rlner 01 Reclamatlon. Of necessity, a federal power policy has been laid down. It can be very simply stated. It has been reiterated by Con. gress for more than lour decades. Federal darns shall include. where feasibility has been determined, facilities lor qeneratmq electrical energy. Preference in power sales shall be gIVen 10 public agencies and cooperatives. Power disposal shall be for the par. ticular benefit of domestic and rural consumers. Power shall be sold m wholesale quantities at the lowest possible rates. It should be noted that the Federal Government is not in the retail distribution business. Disposal shall be such os to encourage widespread use. and to prevent monopoliza1ion. Some people, parlicularly those who are mclined to favor private ulilities exclusively, insist thQ1 the Government should turn over the publicly generated power 10 private distribution companies 01 the point of generation. popularly termed the "bus-boT". Obviously, if the Government did this, it would de- leat the purposes that ore stated above. To carry out the mandates of Congress, construe. tion of some Federal backbone transmission lines is required. Generating stations must be interconnected for eUiciency. The responsibility of the Deportment of the Interior does not end until the power has been made available to the consumer, preferably through public agencies or cooperatives, under circumstances that encourage widespread use and prevent mo- nopolization, and at the lowest possible rates con- sistent with sound business prinCiples. In some instanCeS, the need for investment 01 Federal funds con be lessened through the use 01 "wheeling contracts", These are arrangements by which utilities, lor a fee, agree to carry public power over their lines, and deliver it to federal customers who could not otherWlse be served by the Govern- ment. GRANey OAt.4 .....NO USEIlVOIIl This Federal power policy, as laid down by the Congress 01 the United Slates, is strongly supporte:! by people who put the needs of conservahon and public interest first. It is entirely in accord with the American tradnion of "promote the general wel. fare", 50 clearly slated in the Preamble 01 our Constitution of the United States. To sum up, the power policy makes possible the multiple-purpose, river.basin programs; and It assures widespread use of power developed on these projects, sold as cheaply as possible, Of special sigmficance in this glowing story of the development of multiple. purpose, river-basin pro- grams during the past fifty years is the slOry 01 the Colorado-Big Thompson Project and the transmoun. tain diversion of surplus waters from the Wesetrn Slope 01 the Rockies to brmg irrigation and power beneflls to an area extending 250 miles to the north. east. An undertaking as spectacular and dramatic as its natural scenic backdrop-the Rocky Moun- tains-the Colorado-Big Thompson Project enjoys the distinction of overcoming more seemingly insur- mountable geographical barriers and accomplishing more engineering '.!irsts" than any 01 the other Reclamation Projects. Colorado-Big Thompson has been both 0 multiple- purpose and multiple-problem project. But today it stands as a very tangible answer 01 determined men to the alleqedly insoluble problems 01 yesteryear. Its accomplishment has taken many long years of eHort by local peoople plus the expert engineering skill and invaluable experience gained from the progress of the comprehensive, over-oll ReclamaHon program during the past SO years. Outstanding achievements of which the Colorado- Big Thompson Project may rightfully be proud in- dude the Granby Reservoir, located 8,280 fee! above seo level. the largest body of waler at such an alti. tude in the enlite United States; the Granby Pumping Plant with its huge turbine pumps which lift water some 180 feel !rom the Reservoir. and emply it into I ~