Water and Energy
February 15, 2008
Ask most people about the connection between water and energy and at best you'll get a reference to hydropower generation. But the connection between water use and energy extends well beyond the use of water to generate power--the ways we use water are some of of the largest energy consuming activities there are. A recent article on CNNMoney highlights the connection:
"Power generation takes water. Pumping water takes power. As the nation struggles to meet electricity demand - expected to surge 50% in the next 30 years - big sections of the country are suffering from drought conditions.
"We're going to have both water and power shortages, maybe in areas where we aren't used to them," said Peter Gleick, President of the Pacific Institute, an environmental research organization. "Atlanta in the last few years is a good example of that."
"Most people don't realize how closely power and water are linked.
"In California, the water pumps that keep the Los Angeles area hydrated are the single largest users of power in the state, according to Gleick. Running a hot water faucet there for five minutes uses as much energy as keeping a 60-watt light bulb on for 14 hours, he said.
"Gleick said that California could achieve 95% of its energy conservation goals 58% more cheaply by targeting water consumption rather than power consumption.
"'Water and energy are tightly linked, but these links are poorly understood and rarely used in policy,' he said."
Gleick is no Johnny-come-lately to water issues. A 2003 MacArthur Fellow in freshwater issues, he was the first person GBN referred us to when we said we were exploring the fesibility of a fresh water institute on Lake Erie. Energy and water are intimately connected in ways that will affect our region for decades to come. Click here to read the rest of the CNNMoney article. To learn more about Peter Gleick and the Pacfic Institute, click here.