Statement of Congressman M. Blaine Peterson

              Washington, D.C. 
September 8, 1961 
 
STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN M. BLAINE PETERSON REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF 
THE TRANSMISSION LINES FOR THE COLORADO RIVER STORAGE PROJECT. 
 
My decision to support House Bill 9076 which, among other things, provides funds for federal construction of the transmission lines for the Colorado River Storage Project, has not been made on the spur of the moment. Rather, it is the result of a study and evaluation of all the material available to me, together with the testimony and hearings before the House Subcommittee and the determination of the intent of the Congress which first authorized the project in 1956. 
 
The most controversial item in the bill, and the one of most concern to us, is an appropriation of $13.6 million to be used by the Department of the Interior for planning a 2,000 mile network of lines to transmit power from the Colorado River Storage Project to five western states. This power will be available starting in 1963. 
 
The big question was whether a private or a public system of transmission facilities would best serve the interests of the people of the State of Utah. 
 
The original bill passed by Congress provided that the federal government was to construct these transmission lines. The authoriziag legislation contained the following provision: 
 
"Sec. 7. The hydroelectric powerplants and transmission lines authorized by this Act to be constructed, operated, and maintained by the Secretary shall be operated in conjunction with other Federal powerplants, present and potential, so as to produce the greatest practicable amount of power and energy that can be sold at firm power and energy rates..." (italics mine) 
 
This bill was signed by President Eisenhower on the 11th day of April, 1956. In 1960, after extensive studies by the Bureau of Reclamation, substantiated by qualified engineering committees, the Secretary of the Interior, Fred Seaton, a Republican, approved the recommendation made by the Commissioner of Reclamation that the private utility proposal for construction of most of the transmission lines for the Project be rejected. 
 
Thereafter, on February 3, 1961, Secretary of the Interior Udall reaffirmed this position and rejected the private utilities proposal. 
 
Both private and public power interests have submitted voluminous material relating to this complex and technical matter. I have been unable to reconcile the differences between them, but I am of the firm opinion that in the end it will be necessary for both groups to work together  for the full utilization of the power generated. I had hoped that they could resolve their differences before now. 
 
In view of all the facts, I sincerely believe that the best interests of the people of the State of Utah will be served through federal construction of the transmission lines. I have studied comparative cost to the taxpayer, cost of power to the consumer, the speed and efficiency with which the network would be built, and other factors vital to the issue. The production of power is important to reclamation because the sale of electricity provides the funds to pay for the entire project. My concern is that sufficient funds will be available to pay for the construction of all the units of the project on a sound financial schedule. 
 
For these reasons I have decided to cast my vote in favor of the Public Works Appropriation bill as submitted by the Committee. I also wish to point out that the bill includes over $10 million for reclamation projects in Utah other than the Colorado River Storage Project. In so casting my vote, I am firmly convinced that I am supporting a reclamation project for 366,000 acres of otherwise wasted western land together with the benefits to be had from irrigation, flood control, soil conservation and the production of electricity. This drought-ridden summer is stark evidence of our complete dependence upon full utilization of all water facilities. 
 
The destiny of Utah depends upon the future availability of water and power and I consider it my duty as your Representative in Congress to utilize every proper means to promote and encourage water development for our great State.