Archive for September, 2014

Predicting The Worldwide Impact Of Water Scarcity On The Energy Sector

Via Water Online, a look at the global watergy crisis: Most of the effects of drought around the world are obvious — dried up lakes, water restrictions, brown lawns, destroyed crops, and wildfires. But there is another consequence of water scarcity that is often not considered — and it can result in a literally powerless […]

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A Tale Of 3 Countries: Water Risks To Global Shale Development

Courtesy of the World Resources Institute, a look at three case studies facing watergy issues related to shale oil development: The shale gas revolution, which began nearly 10 years ago in the United States, is poised to spread across the globe. For many countries, shale gas could strengthen energy security while cutting emissions. But unlocking […]

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Shale Resources And Water Risks

Courtesy of World Resources Institute, a detailed look at priority locations worldwide where freshwater management will be most critical if shale is developed: Shale resources are unevenly distributed worldwide and, for the most part, not located where freshwater is abundant. For example, China, Mexico, and South Africa have some of the largest technically recoverable shale […]

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Water Constraining Revival Of Iraq’s Oil Production

Via Reuters, a report on Iraq’s watergy constraints: A lack of water threatens Iraq’s plans to raise its oil output, boost its stumbling economy and become a leading producer in the region after Saudi Arabia. A multi-billion dollar common seawater injection scheme designed to boost production from the giant export oilfields in Iraq’s south is […]

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Identifying The Global Coal Industry’s Water Risks

Via the World Resources Institute, a detailed look at the water risks inherent in global coal development: Water is essential for energy production—when water risks arise, energy producers around the world feel the impacts. A massive flood in Australia in 2011 reduced its coal export volume, pushing global coal prices higher. Drought in the U.S. […]

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China: Not A Drop To Frack

Via Quartz, an interesting look at China, a nation that may have more shale gas than any other country but not enough water to do so: A water treatment pond for a shale gas well in Sichuan.Reuters The Middle Kingdom is thought to have the world’s largest technically recoverable shale gas resources, as well as the […]

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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.”