Water Supply Should Not Be an Obstacle To Meeting Energy Development Goals

Alternative energy technologies, such as oil shale development, coal gasification, geothermal power generation, coal liquifaction, and coal slurry lines were heralded as key contributors to the Nation's energy independence and were expected to consume lots of water. Consequently, many reports predicted that the Nation's quest for energy and mineral independence will stimulate a prolonged thirst for water and will virtually exhaust all unused water in the mineral-rich, water-short West. However, recent evidence indicates that these predictions are unfounded or outdated and that adequate water is available for energy development through at least the year 2000.