… The [Colorado River] basin, on the whole, is drying. That’s frightful for the 40 million people and 5 million acres that the river supplies with water. But it’s also worrisome for electricity generation. Lakes Mead and Powell, the basin’s two largest reservoirs, are approaching critical levels in which hydropower from their dams (Hoover and Glen Canyon, respectively) would be severely curtailed or altogether cease. …  As the power of flowing water becomes less reliable, they [utilities] are turning to an energy resource that is almost always on in the Southwest during the day: the sun.

Other Colorado River Basin news:

• Las Vegas Review-Journal: Editorial: Want to save Colorado River water? Look to farmers