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Politics : Politics of Energy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (46680)	1/25/2014 1:38:17 AM
From: Eric	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 86356

California attempted a "water grab" on the Columbia River a number of years ago and all hell broke loose up here in Washington and Oregon. California was in drought conditions (if I remember correctly back in the late 1980's) and they were looking for more water. They were not satisfied with all that they were importing at the time and realized that they were moving into a "coffin corner" situation with their increasing population. Finally some logic came to the situation. The energy required to pump the water over 1000 miles pretty much killed the idea. If you study just how much energy California spends moving water around it's pretty significant. Something like 15% of all electricity consumed in the state. When I read those numbers I was stunned. But if you fly in a small airplane (which I have over most of the state) you begin to grasp the size of the problem. In other words, more people just can't be sustained down there, especially southern parts of the state. Mulholland bought some time but only at an incredible price. en.wikipedia.org PBS did a nice documentary on him and the system about 20 years ago. You sure couldn't pull off that trick today! I have a friend who lives near San Diego. His water bills have gone out of sight the last few years. He is trying to water his old avocado trees but they continue to raise his rates. He wants to put in a well but unfortunately that's illegal now in the state. Running dry... Eric