The Water-Energy Nexus

Energy generation and resource extraction are dangerously connected to the large use of water resources. Coal, nuclear and natural gas power plants drink up half the freshwater withdrawn from US rivers. The threat appears most acute in Asia, where rivers are being diverted to feed thirsty coal-fire power plants: India and China alone plan to build $720 billion in new coal generators over the next two decades. The World Policy Institute hare released its Water-Energy Nexus Paper, where the focus is drawn on the extremely critical water business: in a world where water scarcity is a major and growing challenge, meeting future energy needs depends on water availability –and meeting water needs depends on wise energy policy decisions. Read an abstract here.