This assessment estimates the impact of future national energy development on water resources. Energy development would include various types of electric power plants, production of synthetic fuels, coal and uranium mining, oil and gas extraction, and other conversion processes. The Energy Analysis Program at LBL has conducted this analysis for its assigned region, the states of California and Nevada. The objective of this study is to determine water requirements of energy technologies and their implications, with emphasis on emerging technologies for aggregated subareas (ASA) in California. The first phase of this study provides energy-supply projections and corresponding demands for water resources as perceived by regional and state groups responsible for or involved in energy planning in California and Nevada. The second phase of the study is designed to calculate the water requirements for the levels of energy development in California as specified by a Department of Energy scenario for the year 2000 and by utility projections as reported by the Federal Power Commission for 1985. The implications of these water requirements on competing water users are explored briefly. 24 references.

This report is a technical analysis of the Water Resources Council prepared to determine the degree to which the water resources of the United States will be able to accommodate potential increases in energy production. The study considers the competition of energy-related water requirements with existing or anticipated future water uses for other purposes; accommodation of energy-related water requirements with other competing uses; the magnitude and extent of any water supply shortages, water quality, institutional and other water supply problems (environmental, capital investment, manpower, inter-basin transfer) that may restrict or prevent selected future condition energy development scenarios from being implemented; water-related Federal actions required to overcome problems and constraints of the nature described above; the requirements which need to be placed on hydroelectric power generation capability to assist in meeting the Nation's energy needs.