In Era of Climate Change and Water Scarcity, Meeting National Energy Demand Confronts Major Impediments

kristyTrendspotting

Dear colleagues,

I wanted to draw your attention to the culmination of Circle of Blue’s important two month long investigative series chronicling the tightening conflict — the choke point — between declining freshwater supplies and rising energy demand.
Today we publish another in the series that finds:

Unless the United States plans more carefully, generating energy from clean alternatives will almost certainly consumer more water than the fossil fuels they are meant to replace;

Tapping new “unconventional” carbon-rich reserves uses three to four times as much water as “conventional” reserves;
The energy vector in the United States points strongly to more fossil fuel consumption, not less. That means much more climate changing emissions and tighter fresh water reserves.

Today we are in Washington, D.C. to present the Choke Point U.S. findings, including comprehensive infographics at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Meanwhile, the Clinton Global Initiative will highlight Circle of Blue’s work during a session on environmental solutions in New York City.

Many thanks,
Clyde Rastetter
Circle of Blue

In Era of Climate Change and Water Scarcity, Meeting National Energy Demand Confronts Major Impediments
http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/in-era-of-climate-change-and-water-scarcity-meeting-national-energy-demand-confronts-major-impediments/

“Choke Point: U.S. raises significant concerns about the values and principles that form the basic foundation of national energy policy in the era of rapid population growth, rising energy demand and climate change. The DOE has prepared a number of studies, accepted largely without question, that predict that as the nation’s population reaches more than 440 million in 2050, energy demand will increase by 40 percent.”

Additional coverage is here:

Choke Point: U.S. Understanding the Tightening Conflict Between Energy and Water in the Era of Climate Change,
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1421&fuseaction=topics.event_summary&event_id=633211

Water Demand is Flash Point in Dakota Oil Boom
http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/scarce-water-is-no-limit-yet-to-north-dakota-oil-shale-boom/

Oil’s Spoils
http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/featured-water-stories/oils-spoils/

Renewable Energy
http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/featured-water-stories/renewable-energy/

Infographic: State-by-State Electricity Generation
http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/infographic-u-s-power-sources/

Infographic: 10 Things You Should Know about Water + Energy
http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/infographic-10-things-you-should-know-about-water-energy/