The Energy-Water Collision

The U.S. electricity system relies heavily on freshwater, with cooling power plants accounting for 41 percent of all freshwater withdrawals. This dependence creates a 'collision' where energy production competes with municipal, agricultural, and ecosystem needs, a situation exacerbated by global warming. The report details regional risks—such as hydropower instability in the Northwest and cooling water shortages in the Southeast—and highlights low-water alternatives like wind, solar photovoltaic, and dry-cooling systems.

• Cooling power plants represent the single largest use of freshwater withdrawals in the United States, accounting for 41 percent of the total.
• Water dependence creates operational risks for power plants; during droughts or heat waves, plants may be forced to reduce output or shut down if cooling water is unavailable or too warm to be safely discharged.
• In the Southeast, the power sector is particularly water-intensive, with power plants accounting for two-thirds of all freshwater withdrawals in the region.
• The Northwest's reliance on hydropower (over 60 percent of its electricity) is threatened by global warming, which is expected to reduce snowpack and runoff, leading to more erratic seasonal streamflows.
• In the Great Plains, the High Plains Aquifer is being depleted at an unsustainable rate, with 17 billion gallons pumped daily, increasing competition between power plants and other water users.
• The report identifies three main cooling technologies: once-through systems (high withdrawal, high thermal impact), recirculating/closed-loop systems (lower withdrawal, high evaporation), and dry-cooling systems (up to 90 percent less water use, but higher cost and lower efficiency).
• Transitioning to 'water-smart' energy—including wind, solar photovoltaic, and energy efficiency—can reduce the electricity sector's drain on water resources and mitigate the risks of power disruptions.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (n.d.). The Energy-Water Collision. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/power-and-water-at-risk-with-endnotes.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. The Energy-Water Collision. n.d. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/power-and-water-at-risk-with-endnotes.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=The Energy-Water Collision |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/power-and-water-at-risk-with-endnotes.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientistsndenergywater, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{The Energy-Water Collision}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/power-and-water-at-risk-with-endnotes.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }