Friday, January 4, 2008

Iowa caucus roundup NewMexiKen: "Nearly twice as many Democrats turned out in Iowa tonight as compared to four years ago -- 239,000 compared to 125,000. Only 108,000 Republicans attended Thursday's caucuses. And this is a state that went for Bush in 2004 (though by a relatively small margin)." More from Ken: And there's these interesting statistics from Tim Dickinson at Rolling Stone: 1. Obama beat Hillary among women voters 35 to 30 percent. 2. Amid record Democratic turnout, as many people under 30 showed up to caucus as those over 65. 3. Sixty percent of the GOP electorate in Iowa were born-again Christians. 4. Rudy Giuliani finished with a mere 4,013 votes, in sixth place, with less than half of the support of Ron Paul. Politcal Wire: "After a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses, Sen. Joe Biden will announce tomorrow that he will end his presidential campaign." Daily Kos: "Barack Obama may be riding the momentum of a caucus win into New Hampshire, but the real winner in tonight's Iowa caucus was young voters...According to estimates by CIRCLE youth vote turnout at the caucus tripled tonight, rising from 4% to 11%. Within the Democratic caucus, over 46,000 young people participated, and young voters comprised 22% of all caucus-goers. According to entrance polls by CNN, 57% of those 17-29 year old caucus goers stood up to caucus for Barack Obama. Tonight, they drove his campaign to victory." Chris Dodd (via The Daily Kos): "I count the past year of campaigning for the presidency as one of the most rewarding in a career of public service. Unfortunately, I am withdrawing from that campaign tonight." Captain's Quarters: "It didn't take Hillary long to re-message the campaign in the wake of her stunning third-place loss to Barack Obama and John Edwards in Iowa. Instead of insisting on change, a theme more amenable to her opponent, Hillary will instead work on the inexperience of her opponents -- and use a tack that Democrats often claim Republicans use against them. It's all about the risk. Politics West: "Democrat Barack Obama pulled out a stunning and decisive victory in the Iowa caucuses Thursday, as voters embraced his message of change and discarded contentions that he was too inexperienced to be president. His win also inflicted a staggering blow to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who finished third and now faces the possibility that momentum may push Obama over the finish line in next week's New Hampshire primary." Here's an extensive roundup from The Moderate Voice. "2008 pres" 6:56:12 AM

Water to generate electricity Here's a look at the water requirements from coal fired generation plants in the Arkansas River Basin. The article is the 13th in The Pueblo Chieftain's series "Water Logs." They write: Power plants - the coal-burning kind that provide most of the state's electricity - use a tremendous amount of water. When all three Comanche units operated by Xcel south of Pueblo are on line after the year 2009, the company will lease 14,700 acre-feet annually from the Pueblo Board of Water Works. The company will make hefty payments for the power, which will largely be used outside the Arkansas Valley. Xcel also bought the Las Animas Consolidated Ditch in 1984. Last year, the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association completed its campaign to gain enough water rights to supply two large power plants near Holly by purchasing more than half of the Amity Canal. Water is also used in power plants that supply users in the valley. The largest is at Colorado Springs, which reuses nonpotable water in its power plants. All told, in the next 50 years, power plants in the Arkansas Valley potentially could double their current use - to a total of more than 50,000 acre-feet, or almost twice as much water as Pueblo now uses in its municipal water system... Coal-fired power plants require large amounts of water for steam turbine generators and cooling. - The issue: Using water for power reduces supply of water available in the Arkansas Valley. - What's at stake: While there are some economic benefits from taxes, fees and water leases, water is no longer available for other uses. - Why it matters: Just as people are dependent on a consistent supply of water, their need for electricity will not diminish over time. - Who's involved: Xcel Energy operates the Comanche power station near Pueblo; Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has bought more than half of the Amity Canal for proposed plants near Holly; Colorado Springs Utilities uses some of its nonpotable water supply for its power plants. More Coyote Gulch coverage here. "colorado water" 5:53:41 AM

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