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10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Friday, February 25
NREL Visitors Center, Golden, CO
Got water? While most of us are still fortunate enough to have a nearby water supply – at least for now – there are many in the United States who are faced with dwindling resources.
Reliable and secure energy – as well as freshwater supplies – are vital to the prosperity of our nation, and are a growing challenge in the American West. Energy and water are increasingly interdependent, with electric power generation requiring large quantities of water, while oil and gas production produces large quantities of wastewater. The electricity industry is second to agriculture as the largest user of water in the United States. Similarly, potable water sourcing, treatment, and distribution require considerable amounts of energy.
The stakeholder workshop, hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and organized with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Western Area Power Administration and Colorado Water Resource Research Institute, explored the energy/water nexus with a focus on energy's impact in water development and quality, and water use and quality in energy production and delivery. Participants identified issues that are critical to ensuring that our energy supply supports water availability and quality; reduces water use in the supply of energy; and advances energy and water sustainability for Colorado, the Rocky Mountains, and the Great Plains.
Some exploratory questions...
- What are critical issues related to ensuring adequate energy supply to support water availability and quality?
- What are the critical issues related to reduced energy demand in water supply, treatment and transportation?
- What are the critical issues related to reducing water use in the supply of energy from the range of fuel sources?
- What are the critical issues related to energy and water security for CO, The Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains?
- How might increased use of renewable energy technologies and energy-efficiency impact water availability and quality?
Anticipated results from this workshop include proceedings, a white paper, and formation of a working group. You can immediately view available presentations that were given at the workshop, as well as a meeting summary (PDF 376 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
The Overview section and its related links provided a more in-depth look at some of the critical issues that were discussed. Participants also can access the final agenda (PDF 126 KB) Download Adobe Reader, which includes information on the co-sponsors.
Overview
Water supply is an issue of paramount importance for the future of this country and the world. At the highest level, the water challenge we face is driven by the intersection of demographics and climate. Population growth and climatic variability are leading to major conflict and competition over freshwater availability. The competition is between various water-use sectors including municipalities, agriculture, industry, energy generation, and the environment. The conflict is between people, states, and countries that draw on a shared natural resource; a natural resource whose distribution does not follow political boundaries. This competition occurs both within the United States and in many regions of the world that are strategically important to the United States.
A closely related challenge is that energy and water are increasingly interdependent. Electric-power generation requires large quantities of water; and oil and gas production produces larges quantities of water, currently treated as waste at a very high cost. In the reverse direction, treatment of impaired water is becoming increasingly important; and future power demands for desalination, water reuse, and water pumping for distribution will grow substantially.
For more information, access the energy-water connection of this site. You also can access additional online resources that discuss this topic.
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