CleanTechnica•about 1 month ago
7 US States Fail To Agree On How To Share Colorado River Water
Key Takeaway
The failure of states to agree on Colorado River water sharing creates significant operational and financial risks for power developers and large industrial consumers, particularly those reliant on water for cooling or hydropower.
AI Summary
- •Seven US states have failed to reach an agreement on sharing the Colorado River's diminishing water resources, exacerbating existing supply-demand imbalances.
- •This ongoing water crisis poses significant risks to hydropower generation capacity in the region, potentially leading to reduced grid reliability and increased electricity prices for large consumers.
- •Developers of thermal power plants (e.g., CCGT, simple-cycle) and large industrial loads, including datacenters, should anticipate increased operational costs or siting challenges due to potential water restrictions and higher water prices in the Colorado River basin states.
- •The lack of agreement signals continued policy uncertainty and the potential for future federal mandates or state-level water use restrictions, impacting long-term project planning and operational stability.
Topics
capacity-marketccgtdatacenterpolicysimple-cycle
Article Content
There is less water in the Colorado River than there used to be, but demand for that water is higher than ever. The post 7 US States Fail To Agree On How To Share Colorado River Water appeared first on CleanTechnica .