Fire and water the focuses of Club 20 Spring Conference

At the Club 20 Spring Conference in Grand Junction, Colorado, U.S. House Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Grand Junction) spoke on various topics including the pressing need for reliable electric generating capacity in the Rocky Mountain region. Hurd expressed surprise at the significant impact of AI and data centers on the economy and their role in exacerbating the existing "resource adequacy shortfall" for electricity. He emphasized that the demand for reliable power from these facilities will only increase, posing a critical question of how to manage this reality responsibly while ensuring affordability and fairness for communities like Moffat County. The conference, attended by roughly 65 club members including elected officials and business leaders, also featured discussions on an active wildfire season forecast due to a 20-year drought. U.S. Forest Service Region 2 Incident Commander Dan Dallas presented data on drought severity and high wildfire risk across the American West, attributing increased risk to reduced snowpack, drier soils, and water-stressed vegetation. Xcel Energy's Wildfire Mitigation Outreach Manager, Steve Roalstad, showcased the company's use of Pano AI cameras for smoke detection and proactive power management to mitigate fire risks near infrastructure. Additionally, Hurd provided updates on efforts to secure Shoshone Water Rights for the Colorado River District and discussed complications arising from the Colorado River Compact. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet also addressed attendees, touching on the severity of the drought, the dwindling federal support for wildfire mitigation, and the state's need for a stable 10-year budget plan to address financial crises in areas like health care and education. The event underscored the intertwined challenges of energy, water, and environmental management facing Western Colorado.