Though the electrical generating network is essential to every aspect of China’s economy and way of life, the favored carbon-based fuel sources also have made its operations less fit for the era of hotter and dryer weather — occurring in China’s north and west desert regions. Coal-fired power plants require access to large volumes of water in order to generate electricity, thus erratic climate conditions are making it much more difficult for utilities to consistently supply electricity to the rapidly expanding number of residences and businesses in Urumqi.