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CNN Live At Daybreak

Hoover Dam Supplies Power to Arizona, Nevada and California

Aired July 25, 2001 - 08:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the energy crunch is in the spotlight today at the National Press Club in Washington. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham makes the case for the Bush administration's long-term solutions for power shortages and high gasoline prices. Earlier this week, Abraham unveiled a plan for a $300 million expansion of California's power grid.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The California power crunch has eased somewhat this summer, but new power sources and transmission lines are still a priority. Much of California's power comes from a 66-year-old dam that holds back the Colorado River.

CNN's Eric Horng is there on the Nevada-Arizona border.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a harsh and barren land stands a 700-foot high colossus that is equal parts brawn and beauty. Hoover Dam was built to tame the mighty Colorado River. Construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1935, two years ahead of schedule. The price tag: $165 million. But the difficulty of the construction is best measured by the 96 recorded on-site fatalities. Contrary to legend...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no one buried in the concrete.

HORNG: Hoover Dam harnessed the river, allowing once dusty fields to bloom and providing a reliable water and power supply throughout the booming West.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's a, you know, fairly critical hinge pin of the development of the -- of the desert southwest.

HORNG: The dam's primary goal is flood control, but through hydroelectric generation, Hoover Dam produces more than four billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually -- enough to serve 1.3 million people. The process begins when water is brought into the facility through four intake towers located behind the dam. The water then flows by force of gravity into one of 17 turbines situated in the dam's powerhouse. Each turbine powers a generator. Arizona and Nevada receive some of the electricity but most of Hoover Dam's power ends up in California.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Southern California really can attribute a lot of its growth to the fact that Hoover is here, not necessarily to supply them the power, but to guarantee that their power is there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: That was Eric Horng on the Nevada-Arizona border.

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