September 2013
Water, Energy, and Climate Change
Dear  ,

Earlier this summer, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a comprehensive study of the U.S. water/energy/climate nexus, and two Carpe Diem West leaders were struck by the power of its findings.

 

Under some of the scenarios laid out in the report, water withdrawals for power generation would drop by 97 percent from current levels by 2050, with most of that drop within the next 20 years as outdated, water-intensive technology is replaced with renewables. That would cut carbon emissions 90 percent from current levels, mostly in the near term. An expansion of renewable energy generation would also be a much cheaper path for consumers.

 

Connecting the dots between energy, water use and planning, and climate change, has long been of interest to our network. Doug Kenney (a research collaborator on the study) at the University of Colorado and Fran Spivy-Weber with the California Water Resources Control Board each shared their take on the importance of the study, and its relevance to the water sector. 

 

Seize the day!



Kimery Wiltshire, Executive Director
Doug Kenney
An interview with Doug Kenney

 

"The bottom line is that we've designed an electricity system in this country that places the water and energy sectors on a collision course, but it doesn't have to be that way."

 

Dr. Doug Kenney is Director of the Western Water Policy Program at the University of Colorado's Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment. 

 

 Read the interview here.

Fran Spivy-Weber
An interview with Fran Spivy-Weber

"Water is the best entry to getting GHG savings faster, better and easier.

 

Fran Spivy-Weber is Vice Chair of California's State Water Resources Control Board.

 

Read the interview here.

In this issue of Confluence:
Interview with Doug Kenney
Interview with Fran Spivy-Weber
On the blog

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