WSP01643

• File Number: 8543
• Description: Closed Basin Division
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 8/1/1984
• Author: USBOR
• Title: The San Luis Valley Project - Closed Basin Division - Facts and Concepts about the Project - Revised 1984
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
CLOSED BASIN PROJECT

Question:

Official statements say that about 13,000,000 kilowatts of electrical
power will be needed to operate the project each year. This power will
be furnished by local utility companies. Why isn't some form of alter-
native energy part of the project plan? How will local utilities meet
this new demand for a large amount of power? Who will pay for these
powerlines?

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Ans''le r:

The federal government has an alternative energy program which is
active in the San Luis Valley. Automatic wind measuring stations have
been installed at a number of locations in the Valley. They are
collecting information to determine if this energy source is feasible.
The Department of Energy is designing a solar energy system which will
be installed at a project well. This program will help the Bureau find
out if solar energy technology can be used for the project.

The fact that the project is currently designed to run off
"conventional" energy sources reflects the decision of the U.S.
Congress to authorize a water salvage project, not an experimental
program in alternative energy. The positive steps that are being taken
to make sure that project alternative energy options are not closed
does not mean that the utility companies will not be able to meet long
term project energy needs. The project was originally planned to
operate with hydropower from Government facilities. The distribution
system waS to have been built and operated by the Government. Numerous
citizens asked if private landowers would be able to get electrical ser-
vice from the Closed Basin Project System. These requests and the
other factors noted below prompted the Bureau to find out if local uti-
lity companies could provide the power needed to run the project. The
utility companies firmly state that project power requirements have
been included in their plans to keep the San Luis Valley supplied with
power. That assurance means that project power needs will be included
with the power needs of a growing San Luis Valley in the utility com-
panies' long range planning. Part of that planning is the design and
operation of power plants to meet all applicable laws and regulations
protecting the air and environment.

Energy costs of new development must be very carefully evaluated,
These costs were carefully weighed in the .studies which found that the
Closed Basin Project is economically justified. Talks with the utility
companies began in earnest in 1978. The utility companies knew about