Addressing energy-water challenges
The US’s energy infrastructure depends tremendously upon water supply. Unfortunately, the future of water supply is uncertain and most states expect water shortages over the next decade, as shown in Figure 315. Water supply issues have already prevented many new energy infrastructures from being developed; In 2005 a proposed coal-fired plan on Lake Michigan was abandoned because environmental groups protested potential effects of the facility’s cooling-water-intake structures on the lake’s aquatic life16 and in 2002 Idaho opposed two proposed power plants because of impact on local aquifer17. The 2001 drought in the Northwest significantly reduced hydroelectric power production, leading to the loss of thousands of jobs in the energy- intensive aluminum industry18.
FIGURE 3: Taken from the General Accounting Office’s website
Water resources must be balanced between the agriculture, industrial, and domestics sectors. With climate change increasing uncertainty in water supplies, we must find effective ways to address the US’s future water needs.
The current methods ofretrieving water require excessive amounts of energy. Water storage or the“conjunctive” use of groundwater and surface water requires a lot of energy to treat andinject water and then to pump it out when it is needed19. Desalination, the conversationof salt water into drinking water, has energy requirements similar to those oftransporting water long distances20. Sustainable alternatives such as tax credits forhigh-efficiency toilets, low-flow showerheads, and water-conserving washers must be implemented.
Currently the government provides subsidies for solar panels and other renewable energies, however there is no established credit system for water-conserving mechanisms. Reducing water consumption saves energy needed for water supply and treatment as well as for heating water and thus reduces the requirements for water for the energy sector21. In addition to coordinated energy-water conservation, the US needs to make water and energy resource planning a collaboration on a federal, regional, and state level as well as with industry and other stakeholders. Currently, energy planning and water planning are done separately22. This practice will not be sustainable as demands for both water and energy grow and supplies deplete. Both water and energy sources must be employed to their full potential. The lack of integrated energy and water planning and management has already negatively impacted energy production, leading to many rejected power plant proposals in the fastest growing regions of the country. Also, recent droughts and emerging limitations of water resources have many states, including Texas, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, struggling to provide water for many other sectors, not including the energy sector23. Regional resource planning groups could ensure collaboration between stakeholders, water management, and energy planning. These groups are needed to ensure proper allocation of limited water resources for all needs, including energy development.
Building power plants next to water treatment facilities or more brackish water resources could mitigate some freshwater needs. Also, waste heat from plants could be used in desalination or water treatment cycles. Biogas from wastewater treatment plants could be used to generate power24. The technologies for some of these processes are currently costly and underdeveloped however in order to optimize long- term economic growth and energy and water sustainability we will need to implement new methods of energy and water production.
Conclusion
Now that the US is becoming increasingly aware of the strong connection between water and energy it must adapt its policies in a way that maximizes the efficiency of the production and consumption of both limited resources. Population trends reflect that both demand for energy and water will rise in the upcoming years. New sources of surface water have not been discovered in the last 20 years and most methods of fostering energy still require significant amounts of water25. To ensure that our nation will be able to continue its development and maintain its economic prestige action needs to be taken to address impending energy-water challenges. There are several policies that the United States could implement to mitigate the energy-water crisis. Three such policies are coordinated energy-water conservation, increased collaboration between energy planning companies and water planning companies, and a synergistic approach to energy and water production. A combination of all or any of these three strategies could help to enhance water security and sustainability as well as energy security and sustainability.
STRUGGLING WITH CITATIONS GRR.