Water is an essential resource to the thermoelectric power sector, which is the largest user of water in the United States. As water-related issues continue to grow due to drought, climate change, and tension between multiple sectors, it is becoming increasingly important that water resources are considered in long-term energy planning.  This study seeks to evaluate projected implications on water resources as energy demand grows and new power plants are built. Capitalizing on recent energy-demand projections from the Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) we are identifying watersheds at highest risk for future water stress. Three future policy scenarios—business as usual, federal portfolio standard, and carbon reduction—are being compared. Energy expansion is calculated for each region defined by the North American Electricity and Environment Model (NEEM). This work will enable the energy sector to factor watershed stress into future energy expansion, which is not currently done.

Integrated energy-water planning in the eastern interconnection

252nd National Meeting (2016)

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