06 May 2014
00:00
Discussion // "The Nexus of Energy and Water for US Sustainability and National Security", Washington DC/USA
Discussion with US Senator Lisa Murkowski on the release of a white paper in coordination with The Nexus of Energy and Water for Sustainability (NEWS) Act of 2014 (S. 1971). This white paper will elaborate on Senate bill 1971, highlighting the importance and vital nature of the energy-water nexus.
This event, part of the Council's Energy-Water Nexus Initiative, will convene senior thought leaders from industry, government, academia, and other stakeholder groups.
Senate bill 1971, introduced by Senator Murkowski and Senator Wyden, recognizes that all forms of energy production require water and that our use of water requires energy. Together, energy and water resources are the foundation of our nation's economy and are essential to our nation's future and international security. Vast amounts of water are used every day to produce vital fuels and to cool power plants in the United States. Without this water supply, most of our electricity would stop flowing and our economy and other essential functions would come to a complete stop. At the same time, a great deal of electricity is needed to treat, transport, and convey water across the country not only to support economic growth and well-being but also to sustain basic life. These inseparable links of "water for energy" and "energy for water" comprise the energy-water nexus.