The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1951-11-23

A number of the prospective sites
may, upon further study, be found
infeasible.
Existing and scheduled federal
hydro electric developments to-
gether with existing and presently
scheduled non-Federal plants would
provide only Al per cent of the
1870 requirements. Full develop
ment of all prospective sites would
provide another 1 6 per cent. This
would account for total of 81
| per cent of the estimated firm re-
quirements in 1870. Additional
thermal-electric supplemented by
available Importation must provide
the balance.
The indignation of hydro-electric
and thermal-electric power plants pro-
vides the most effective use of ma
tural resources for the generation of
electric energy. Greater flexibility in
operation to meet firm loads and
peaking requirements is possible.
New thermal-electric power plants
will be required to meet future loads
in most power market areas either as
supplement to hydro-electric plants
or as the principle source of power.
Analysis has been made of As pos
sible sites for thermal-electric plants
throughout the Basin. Plant capacities
ranged from 10000 kilowatts at sew
eral locations to 100000 kilowatts
Ton. M fol ntsnnC OF (F,frr op1
st. Louis.
COAL WILL BE IMPORTANT
In the northern part of the Basin
the subbituminous and Ignite de-
posits have a favorable future posi-
ton for use in thermal-electric plants.
The subbituminous coal and lig-
mites lying nearer the surface than
coal can, be mined by
Although the beds vary in
the amount of overburden and thick
ness, there are several from 10 feet
TO as much as 1875 feet thick, and
one is 1876 feet. The bituminous and
'ubbituminous deposits in southern
Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas and Mis-
souri, are important sources of supply
n the southern part of the Basin.
OF the known sources of power
which could be utilized for the gem
Grafton of electric power, only two
falling water and fuel resources
- are presently considered as
practical for large-scale develop
ment, the report says. There are,
however, other sources of power
which research may bring into the
realm of practicability. The more
important of these in the Basin are
wind power and atomic energy.
Another possible source of power
is the use of direct solar energy.
Wind power has favorable pros
ect for early development. Ex-
erimental models of small capacity
lants have been constructed and OPP
rated to further the research in this
eld Engineering studies are now
eng made of larger potential in
,allatlons. One of the sites being con-
dered for such an installation is
thin the Missouri River Basin near
aramie, Wyoming.
The 2OO-page report contains de-
lied international data, charts and
atistical tables of reconnaissance
udies on electric energy require
ents and supplies in the II Mis-
uri River Basin Power Marketing
reas, as follows:
Fort Peck-Canyon Ferry; Yellow
il; Big Horn; Garrison; Fort Ran
III; Upper Platte; Central Nebraska;
ansas Omaha-Iowa; Central Iowa;
entral Missouri, and st. Louis.
Copies of the report, prepared by
I'D staffs of the Bureau of Recla-
alton under the supervision of Re-
'nal Directors Kenneth F. Vernon,
llings, Montana, and Avery A. Bat
n, Denver, Colorado, may be OBJ
ned from the Commissioner, Bu-
au of Reclamation, Washington 25,
c., or the regional directors of
es.