Executive Director's Message

Fall 2024: News & Views from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission!

Perhaps even more surprising than the announcement that Three Mile Island (TMI) Unit 1 would be closing in 2019 was the announcement in late September of this year that it would reverse course and re-open. The twist? A tie to Microsoft offering financial support in the interest of ensuring sustainable energy on the grid for the operation of its growing data centers.

This is not the first time SRBC has encountered data centers. Mirroring what is happening across the nation, these power hungry facilities are challenging the landscape of energy and water. Because of the heat generated from intense computing power, the facilities are in need of strong cooling capabilities, which puts a greater demand on our water resources

Managing the consumption of water is SRBC’s unique responsibility across our member states (NY/PA/MD), so we’re well positioned to address the challenges posed. In the TMI example, we continue to have an agreement with owner Constellation for the storage and release of compensatory water to offset the more than 19 million gallon per day loss of water during droughts. In other examples, our forward-looking policies strongly advocate for water-consuming facilities to select more efficient cooling technologies that conserve water through minimizing evaporation.

Our water-conserving policies don’t only apply to large data centers and power plants. In the Fall 2024 issue of our newsletter, you’ll read about a water-saving option for smaller facilities such as golf courses. Employing such practices not only achieves more sustainable drought operations, but it saves money for facilities operating on tight profit margins. It is a priority of the Commission to be sensitive to the financial realities of our stakeholders. That being said, we do have a responsibility for maintaining our own finances in an efficient and sustainable manner. Please take some time to review the constructive changes we’re proposing to our fee schedule, as described in one of this quarter’s articles.

Water resource management is all about constantly striking a balance. Between economics and the ecosystem. Between efficiency and reliability. And between the old and the new. Our challenges and goals to ensure sustainable water supplies, a healthy ecosystem and strong economic development are timeless. But the players in the game, the available technologies, and the financial landscape always present something new for us to address. What’s not new and won’t change is our interest in your thoughts and ideas. Whether you’re a regulated water-user, a community leader or a curious citizen, we hope you’ll continue to engage with us as we navigate, advance and improve water management for the benefit of all.

Best regards,
Andrew D. Dehoff, P.E.
Executive Director