Good idea re the geothermal, which is cost-effective.  See any extra water laying around to pump into it?  Need more reservoirs for that and to replenish the aquifer in the Eastern plains.  There's also the recreational value of more reservoirs.

A good project for your next doctoral thesis would be to come up with a cost-effective way to pump desalinated water from the West Coast to the Mountain West semi-arid deserts.  When we get desperate enough for more water, there is plenty to be had when we're willing to pay for it.  With more water, we could turn this area into a tropical paradise.