Archive for August, 2012

Fracking, Coal And Nukes Wreak Havoc On Freshwater Supplies

Via AlterNet, an article on the impact that fracking, coal, and nuclear power have upon freshwater supplies: For the last few months EcoWatch [1] has been covering what’s become the worst drought in the U.S. in more than half a century. More than 3,200 daily high temperature records were set or tied [2] in June, and July is in […]

Read more »



Water Shortages Hit U.S. Power Supply

Via New Scientist, a report the impact that water shortages are having upon the U.S. power supply: As the United States’ extended heat wave and drought threaten to raise global food prices, energy production is also feeling the pressure. Across the nation, power plants are becoming overheated and shutting down or running at lower capacity; […]

Read more »



China’s Thirst For Coal Could Soon Land It In A Water Shortage

Via Business Insider, a look at a new Greenpeace report on China’s water-coal relationship: As China continues to grow, so too do its energy demands. A report by Greenpeace released this month titled “Thirsty Coal: A Water Crisis Exacerbated By China’s New Mega Coal Power Bases”, reveals some of the more disheartening effects of the […]

Read more »



The Watergy Collision

Via The Union of Concerned Scientists, an interesting infographic and look at the watergy nexus: We all need water. So when supplies dry up in the scorching heat of a summer like this one, we all — households, cities, farmers, industry, wildlife — can feel the strain. Among water users, power plants are some of […]

Read more »



India’s Blackout Exposes Choice Between Water & Electricity

Via GigaOm, an interesting article on India’s challenge where – like in the United States – the power sector is the single largest user of water – more than agriculture. Presuming that India could solve its power problems and build more coal, they would run out of fresh water even faster: Let’s take a snapshot […]

Read more »


  | 
About This Blog And Its Author
As the scarcity of water and energy continues to grow, the linkage between these two critical resources will become more defined and even more acute in the months ahead.  This blog is committed to analyzing and referencing articles, reports, and interviews that can help unlock the nascent, complex and expanding linkages between water and energy -- The Watergy Nexus -- and will endeavor to provide a central clearinghouse for insightful articles and comments for all to consider.

Educated at Yale University (Bachelor of Arts - History) and Harvard (Master in Public Policy - International Development), Monty Simus has held a lifelong interest in environmental and conservation issues, primarily as they relate to freshwater scarcity, renewable energy, and national park policy.  Working from a water-scarce base in Las Vegas with his wife and son, he is the founder of Water Politics, an organization dedicated to the identification and analysis of geopolitical water issues arising from the world’s growing and vast water deficits, and is also a co-founder of SmartMarkets, an eco-preneurial venture that applies web 2.0 technology and online social networking innovations to motivate energy & water conservation.  He previously worked for an independent power producer in Central Asia; co-authored an article appearing in the Summer 2010 issue of the Tulane Environmental Law Journal, titled: “The Water Ethic: The Inexorable Birth Of A Certain Alienable Right”; and authored an article appearing in the inaugural issue of Johns Hopkins University's Global Water Magazine in July 2010 titled: “H2Own: The Water Ethic and an Equitable Market for the Exchange of Individual Water Efficiency Credits.”