Document Type

Report

Publication Date

January 1975

Abstract

Introduction: Choosing a theme for a conference especially one for a group of diverse disciplines such as the American Water Resources Association encompasses, is always a challenge. you find yourself torn between thigns you'd really like to talk and hear about, and topics you think will draw attendance. It was most fortunate when somebody came up with the idea of Water for Energy, becasue to my way of thinking, it met both of these ends. There is no denying that starting in late 1973, energy has been the catchword, and the energy crisis has been the bandwagon to leap upon. But in Utah, energy is more than potent ad copy. Development of the coal, oil, oil shale, bituminous sands, and geothermal resources within the State can, and perhaps will, turn the state unside down. Whether or not anyone at any level of government will be able to exercise control over evnergy-related events remains to be seen. It is no surprise that energy-development in Utah will be governed by the availability of water. What may be more important is the growing evidence that if the laws and policies of the state regarding allocation of water are not changed, energy development will get all the water it needs (through the free market system(, and agriculture will be the loser. So the energy crisis will become in effect a "rural life" crisis. Nearly everybody wants to have conomic growth; nearly everybody wants to maintain the environmentl and aesthetics that have made Utah a pleasant place to live. But can we have both? Water is but one aspect of this question, but in Utah it is a cruicial one. The papers that follow discuess technical, economic, social, legal, and political factors associated with water development for evergy in Utah. Hopefully, this material will provide new insights and result in more informed and rational decision-making.

Download

Share

COinS