Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

United States Squanders Watergy Resources During Heat Wave

Courtesy of The River Network, an article on the watergy nexus’ impact during the current drought plaguing much of the U.S.: This month across much of America our electric grid was cranked up to record levels to meet the air conditioning needs of another extreme heat event. At the same time, the scientific journal Nature […]

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Will Drought Cause The Next Blackout?

Via the New York Times, a look at the watergy nexus in light of the continuing drought: WE’RE now in the midst of the nation’s most widespread drought in 60 years, stretching across 29 states and threatening farmers, their crops and livestock. But there is another risk as water becomes more scarce. Power plants may […]

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Watergy Nexus In The Middle East

Via The Gulf News, a look at the watergy nexus in the Middle East: While we are always reminded in the media about the questions of energy security, water resources are equally important and increasingly linked to energy in what became known as the energy water nexus, or how much of each is needed to […]

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California’s Watergy Conundrum

Via Aguanomics, one student’s look at California’s watergy dilemma: The Edmonston Pumping Station pushes water 2,000 feet over the Tehachapi Mountains and into Los Angeles at 142,000 gallons per minute, a feat unrivaled any other water system in the world. The annual energy expenditure to transport this water would be enough to power a third […]

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Reflecting On The Century Of Water: How Coal And Nuclear Are Sucking Up Our Fresh Water

Via Think Progress, another look at a recent report on the watergy nexus: The 20th century was characterized by the frenzied acquisition, storage, and use of oil. But many experts believe that the 21st century will be remembered as the century of water. One of the most alarming emerging issues is the symbiotic — and […]

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Burning Our Rivers: The Water Footprint of Electricity

Via River Network, some thoughts on a new report examining the water footprint of power generation: What goes into our grid matters a lot. Thermoelectric energy is the fastest growing use of water in the country. Reservoirs used for hydropower evaporate more water than all of the cooling towers in the country combined. Looked at […]

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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.”