water

Ask an expert on clean tech what the largest barriers to a low carbon energy future are, and chances are they will list higher technology costs, policy barriers, or the need for new infrastructure to accommodate novel energy sources.[read more]

"A Great Aridness:  Climate Change and the Future of the American Southwest", the recent book written by William deBuys, is getting some attention. The NYTimes summed up the book by quoting the author:  "The story of the West is essentially a story about water".  The reporter paused then quoted deBuys again:  "and its...[read more]

Union of Concerned Scientists Image via Wikipedia A previous reprint of an article originally published in Ecocentric noted that power plants need lots of water primarily for cooling. “Several Texas power plants that rely on cooling ponds are in a tough spot because their reservoirs aren’t being replenished, and that lack of cooling...[read more]

“Understanding the Nexus”, Water Energy Food Nexus, Bonn 2011: Background paper for the Bonn2011 Nexus Conference is now available This paper for the Bonn 2011 Conference presents initial evidence for how a nexus approach can enhance water, energy and food security in a green economy by increasing efficiency, reducing trade-offs, and...[read more]

July was a rough month for the shale gas industry. Marcellus shale wells faced permit suspensions for the withdrawal of water from nearby streams, the media issued reports that various toxic chemicals released during production were migrating to America’s water supplies, and the DEP evaluated claims that methane gas had migrated into aquifers as a result of the fracking process.[read more]

Speaking of less water, Travis Waldron has a fine observation on irresponsible action by fossil fuel companies, specifically drillers using Billions of Gallons of Potable Water for fracking. Where? In Drought-Stricken Texas, of course.[read more]

Although much of the discussion about climate change impacts has focused on increases in temperature and the rise in sea level, changes that impact our nation’s water resources could have the greatest impact on society. A quick glance at recent newspaper headlines—heavy spring rains leading to massive flooding of the Mississippi River,...[read more]

A couple of articles crossed my screen this morning that highlight the unfortunate ways our use of energy and water can interact. First, in the Bloomberg piece, China Orders Release of Water From Three Gorges Dam to Ease Hubei Drought, we learn hear that rainfall has been so low in parts of China (40 to 50 percent below normal for April...[read more]

 As one of Europe’s largest production and research site, the Industriepark Höchst, (in Frankfurt Germany) is home to 90+ companies in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, basic and specialty chemicals, crop protection, food additives and services.The waste water these companies generate is treated in a double stage biological treatment...[read more]

Last week for World Water Day (March 22nd, 2011), I participated in an exclusive webinar about how global cities are dealing with the challenge of managing their most essential resource. Listen to the audio at Sustainable Cities Collective (length 01:01:06)    or download here   Panelists included Dr. Paul Bowen...[read more]

TODAY at 1pm, my Fortune magazine colleague Marc Gunther will host an Energy Collective webinar on the eMobility Challenge: Electric Cars and How to Keep Them Charged. Marc's expert guests will tackle the challenge and opportunity of widespread EV adoption, focussing on the various charging network options and their impact...[read more]

A summary of annual risk forecasts in a Linked-In group led me to a very interesting presentation on global risks from the World Economic Forum, the body that puts on the annual movers-and-shakers shindig at Davos, Switzerland. Among the risks they highlighted are those associated with what they termed the "water-energy-food nexus". The...[read more]

Yesterday, I listened in to The Energy Collective's webinar titled Is Natural Gas a Step Toward Sustainability or an Obstacle for Renewable Energy? During the question and answer session, Charles Barton, the publisher of Nuclear Green, provided a question for the panel about the radon content of the gas extracted from the Marcellus shale...[read more]

When The Water Ends: Africa’s Climate Conflicts: For thousands of years, nomadic herdsmen have roamed the harsh, semi-arid lowlands that stretch across 80 percent of Kenya and 60 percent of Ethiopia. Descendants of the oldest tribal societies in the world, they survive thanks to the animals they raise and the crops they grow, their...[read more]

As global warming accelerates, the world will become not only hotter, flatter, and more crowded but also thirsty, according to a new study that finds 70 percent of counties in the United States may face climate change-related risks to their water supplies by 2050. One-third of U.S. counties may find themselves at “high or extreme risk,”...[read more]