OCR Text |
Show system is desirable for reasons of national defense as well as regional development provided the private systems cooperate fully in accomplishing the objective of Federal power policy. The co- ordinated operation of facilities would take advan- tage of diversities in types of load and plant outputs, thereby firming plant capacities. The technique of coordinated operation of a region-wide power pool, involving the hydraulic and power facilities of 10 different agencies- Federal and non-Federal-has been successfully developed in the Pacific Northwest in both peace and war. In general, the basic principles involved in the Northwest Power Pool operations would be applicable in the Central Valley. Coordination for the Central Valley would have to provide for flood control, irrigation, power, fish and wildlife, and related purposes. It also should provide for established water rights, contractual commitments of various kinds insofar as releases of water are concerned, and for power service to preferential customers from Federal projects through wheeling18 or other arrangements. The plan should be flexible and capable of being readily adjusted to meet changing conditions and require- ments. Conclusions (1) The rapidly growing load in the area and considerations of national defense require addi- tional generating capacity in advance of actual need. (2) To the extent practicable, consistent with the maintenance of the proper ratio of steam to hydro for the most economical system operation, future additions of capacity in the area should be provided by hydroelectric plants for both conserva- tion and national security. (3) The power generation and transmission facilities of the valley and adjoining areas should be integrated and operated as a unified system, in- cluding bo-th Federal and non-Federal facilities under contracts assuring public and cooperative systems a preferential right to Federal power sup- plies and lo^v rates for irrigation pumping. (4) A coordinated basin-wide plan of operation of a Central Valley Power Pool, including inter- connections with adjacent areas, should be pre- pared with full consideration of all operating re- quirements of hydraulic facilities for purposes other than power. 18 Transmis sion over its lines by one agency of electric energy produced by another agency. 6. Facilities for Future National Defense Needs The Problem The place of national defense in plans for future water resources development in the Central Valley. The Situation Many new industries were developed in Cali- fornia during World War II which are of con- tinuing importance to national defense. Principal among them are the aircraft, shipbuilding, and re- lated industries. It is expected that the growth and expansion of industry will continue, particu- larly in southern California and the San Francisco Bay area. Although the majority of these industries are outside the Central Valley, water resources develop- ment in the valley is directly related to their opera- tion and therefore to national defense for the following reasons: (a) Hydroelectric power which Central Valley projects can furnish is needed by strategic indus- tries in the San Francisco Bay area. (b) Water supplies are needed in the bay area for domestic and industrial use. These can best be supplied from the Central Valley. (c) Full irrigation development in the Central Valley would contribute to greater self-sufficiency in the regional food supply and thereby free trans- portation facilities for other vital uses. (d) Navigation can provide supplementary transportation of defense materials, food, and the products of mines and forests. (e) Flood control reduces damages to estab- lished municipal, agricultural, and industrial facil- ities in the valley, and thereby promotes stability of production. Conclusions (1) Because of the vital importance of Central Valley water projects to strategic industry, food supply, and domestic water in the San Francisco Bay area, the program should proceed promptly, with account being taken of the bay area's needs. Attention should be given to the possibility of decentralizing industrial concentrations in the bay region, making use of sites as well as resources with- in the valley. Future water projects, wherever pos- sible, should be so designed as to encourage such decentralization, particularly for new construction. 136 |