In recent years we have seen increasing debate over
the allocation of PNW water resources. In particular there
are conflicts over using the river system for irrigation
vs. electricity production. Denying the hydroelectric
system water implies higher costs to electricity consumers
as producers substitute more expensive nonhydro resources.
This research looked at the impact of new irrigation
on PNW electricity consumers. This was done under varying
assumptions of demand response and farmer payments for
pumping of irrigation water. The study also examined the
difference between the current policy of allowing farmers
to take all the water they need, and a policy in which
withdrawals are limited in periods of low streamflow.
Simulations were run to determine the amount of
electricity production lost because of withdrawals. These
results were then used in a series of simulations to
estimate the economic impacts under the various assumptions
and policies.
It was found that irrigation caused losses to
electricity consumers. In some cases this loss was on the
order of $200/acre of irrigated land. The loss was
significantly mitigated under the interruptible policy.
Farmer payments for irrigation energy also reduced the loss
to consumers. / Graduation date: 1985
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/26739 |
| Date | 25 May 1984 |
| Creators | Ross, Mark |
| Contributors | McCarl, Bruce A. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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