Reply #10: You probably already know all of this [View All]

I found this year 2000 article from Forbes on LV's power problems. Even though it is dated it provides good information about the demand and generating structure of LV. You aren't even close to getting all your power from the dam. Predicted 8Gw peal load in the summer daytime by 2015. I suspect that is going to be high, however, as fuel costs will probably eat into the number of visitors.
As it stands, I'd guess that the value of new generation is going to be measured against the price of natural gas rather than the value of the water, but I could be totally wrong. If the market forces remain as they are, solar will probably start popping up as the per unit price drops.
If the electric load is causing excessive use of water (as opposed to downstream demand) or if there is an upstream supply problem that will affect the amount of water available to be used for generation (such as dramatically reduced snowmelt), then a public campaign to push legislators into mandating preemptive action (strong subsidies for solar) might be effective.

Just a thought.


http://www.forbes.com/business/energy/forbes/2007/0312/092.html