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Proposal Calls for Nuclear Power to Pump Water into Colorado River
A new plan advocates for desalination plants in California powered by small modular nuclear reactors.
Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:56pm
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A visionary blueprint for harnessing nuclear energy to replenish the Colorado River and secure water supplies for the Southwest.San Diego TodayA proposal from the Idaho-based Blue Ribbon Commission suggests building new desalination plants on California's coast that would convert Pacific Ocean seawater into freshwater and pump it hundreds of miles inland to replenish the dwindling Colorado River. The group says small modular nuclear reactors could provide the power needed to run the desalination process and water pumps, while also generating excess electricity for other uses.
Why it matters
The Colorado River has been plagued by drought and declining water levels for decades, threatening water supplies for millions across the Southwest. This proposal aims to create a new source of freshwater to stabilize the river's reservoirs, which are critical for power generation and as a backup water supply for the region.
The details
The plan calls for siting the new desalination plants on federal land or in federal waters, which would place them outside of California's strict environmental regulations. This, the group argues, would lower the overall cost of the desalination process compared to the state's existing Carlsbad plant, one of the most expensive sources of desalinated water in the world. The proposal lists several power sources, including solar and wind, but emphasizes the potential of small modular nuclear reactors to both power the desalination and water pumping operations while also generating excess electricity.
- The proposal was presented in March 2026.
The players
Ben Burr
President of the Idaho-based Blue Ribbon Commission, the group behind the proposal to build nuclear-powered desalination plants to replenish the Colorado River.
Jeremy Crutchfield
Representative of the San Diego County Water Authority, which operates the Carlsbad desalination plant, one of the most expensive sources of desalinated water in the world.
What they’re saying
“Combining it with nuclear really lowers the cost and actually increases your power delivery for other things.”
— Ben Burr, President, Blue Ribbon Commission
“Once the water is produced through these, it's almost to a distilled quality. We actually have to put minerals back into it to create hardness for flavor and taste and color.”
— Jeremy Crutchfield, Representative, San Diego County Water Authority
What’s next
The Blue Ribbon Commission is currently shopping the proposal to federal and state officials in California and Arizona, seeking support and funding to further develop the plan.
The takeaway
This proposal represents a bold and innovative approach to addressing the Colorado River's water crisis, leveraging nuclear power technology to create a new source of freshwater. However, the plan's reliance on bypassing California's strict environmental regulations raises concerns that will need to be carefully addressed.
