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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.
2005 - Energy Policy Act. Wikipedia.
2007- Energy Independence and Security Act. Wikipedia.
The Hydro Reseach Foundation
Solutions from Stanford University
Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP)
Colorado River Energy Distributrors Association
Western Area Power Administration
Upper Colorador River Commission
Institutions & Organizations
Navajo Generating Station
Nuclear Power Plants
URANIUM MINING AND MILLING