Water and energy projects and issues often intersect, creating both challenges and opportunities.

Many water storage reservoirs are multi-purpose, storing water to provide a steady supply to communities and agriculture, while also generating clean hydropower. But climate change is emptying water storage, making this previously reliable source of energy unreliable and expensive.

Hydropower generation from the Shoshone Power Plant in Glenwood Canyon is an important local clean energy asset but is threatened by trans-basin diversions from the Colorado River to the front range and climate-driven reductions in stream flows. Securing the plant’s water rights and accelerating water conservation statewide can protect clean power.

Drinking water distribution and wastewater treatment are energy intensive, especially in our mountain environment. Transitioning to clean power will keep customer bills for water and wastewater rates low and reduce a large source of local emissions.

Hydropower can also be captured from municipal water systems, and wasted heat from wastewater treatment plants can be captured to heat buildings, local industries, and streets, which avoids the fossil fuel use of snow-removal equipment and the related water quality impacts of salts and traction sand.