Every year, the Central Valley Project moves more than 2 trillion gallons of water - about 18 percent of California's fresh water supply - to thousands of farms in the state's arid heartland. Massive pumps push the water through 1,437 miles of canals. The electricity used in one year to move water around the CVP would power all of the homes in Chico for more than 18 months, and at current Pacific Gas & Electric Co. rates, cost customers more than $100 million. But farms in the CVP, the largest taxpayer-funded federal irrigation system in the country, pay next to nothing for the power that provides their lifeblood.
Featured Press:
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Calif. Farms Get Electricity Subsidy
Associated Press (and 60 outlets) | May 30, 2007
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Report: Big California farms get unfair power subsidy to pump
Ag Weekly | June 5, 2007
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Water districts' bills for power criticized
The Fresno Bee | May 30, 2007
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Farmers charged up by electric study
Capital Press | May 30, 2007
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Claim: Taxpayers foot electricity bills for Central Valley farmers
Central Valley Business Times | May 30, 2007