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Farmers and Agriculture WorkersThe availability of water is a primary concern among farmers in the arid and semi-arid West. Construction and operation of new coal plants would drastically reduce farmers’ access to sufficient water, and threaten their success and, potentially, livelihood. The proposed coal-fired power plants in the Interior West will add up to 16,500 MW of power to the grid. Collectively, these would use 114 million gallons of water per day or 41.6 billion gallons per year. Even if some of the proposed plants were not constructed, every coal-fired power plant puts a stress on the very limited water supply of the West. Coal plants contribute to water shortages in a more indirect way as well. A typical 500 MW coal plant emits 3.7 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per year. This potent greenhouse gas contributes to global climate change. Farmers are often the first affected by changes in climate, since much of their livelihood depends on the earth and its weather. Due to this dependence, and the fragile ecosystems of the West, farmers in the West are “extremely vulnerable” to the predicted effects of global climate change. Many farmers in the West depend on snow pack for the irrigation of their fields, and a small rise in global temperatures since 1950 has already reduced mountain snow pack in 75% of the region. As shown in the maps below, winter snow pack is both melting earlier and decreasing in magnitude. 
For now, many of the worst effects on water are being felt by California, Oregon and Washington. Due to colder winter temperatures in the Interior West, warming has not caused such a drastic change in snow pack and melting. However, losses can still be significant. We can expect to see a 30% loss of snow pack in the Rockies, which would have a large effect on irrigation. At this point in time, it is “nearly inescapable” that we will continue to lose snow pack, but we can make choices that determine how much we lose. While there will be less snow pack, the overall change will often be embodied through not less water available overall, but a less predictable and different distribution of it. The general trend will be towards wetter winters and drier summers, with an increase in severe weather events as well. Farmers will have to invest money and resources to address their new water situation. In fact, farmers around the world are already losing money due to the effects of global climate change. While no studies have been done regarding only the Interior West, it has been shown that cereal (corn, wheat, barley) farmers around the world have lost an estimated five billion dollars over the past 20 years due to lower harvests caused by climate change. Based on current research, we can expect this trend to get worse. Do not let coal-fired power plant developers continue to threaten your way of life through using up precious water and contributing to global climate change. It is possible and profitable to address growing energy needs in the West through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures. Find out Solutions to coal-fired power plants |
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